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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



AN 



ANALYSIS AND SUMMARY 



OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY 



AND THE 



LAWS OF MOSES. 

WITH A 

CONNECTION BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 

BY 

J. T. WHEELER, F.R.G.S., 

AUTHOR OP 

"AN ANALYSIS AND SUMMARY OF HERODOTUS," "AN ANALYSIS AND 
SUMMARY OP THUCYDIDES," ETC. 



PHILADELPHIA 
"W. R. WORK &c CO 

1879. 






T 



-ft* •** 



COPYRIGHT, 1879, BY WILLIAM R. WORK. 



Westcott & Thomson, 

Stereotypes and Electrotypers, Philada. 



CONTENTS 



As complete Analytical Contents and tables will be found at the be- 
ginning of each book, and a Comprehensive Index at the end of the 
volume, it is presumed that the present condensed contents will be 
found sufficient for reference. 



PAGE 

Preface 7 

Introductory Outline of the History and Geography of the 

Countries noticed in the Old Testament 11 

Outline of the Critical History of the Old Testament 28 

Jewish Months 31 

Chronological Table 33 



THE PENTATEUCH, or Five Books of Moses 35 

Genesis: Patriarchal history from the birth of Adam till the 
death of Joseph. B. C. 4004 to 1635: about two thousand 
three hundred and sixty-nine years 35 

I. History of the world prior to Abraham 36 

II. Lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph 44 

Exodus : History of the Jews as a nomad family from the death 
of Joseph until the building of the tabernacle and consecra- 
tion of the priesthood. B. C. 1635 to 1490 : about one hun- 
dred and forty-five years 68 

I. History of the Exode from Egypt, the journey to Si- 
nai, and the delivery of the Law 69 

II. The Moral and Civil Law 80 

Jewish Constitution 86 

III. The Ceremonial Law — viz. 1. The Tabernacle 89 

Leviticus: History of the Levitical priesthood, sacrifices, etc. 
B. C. 1490: about one month — viz. from the building of the 
tabernacle to the numbering of the people 98 

3 



4 CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

The Ceremonial Law continued from Exodus — viz. : 

2. Priests, Levites, and Nethinim 96 

3. Sacrifices, oblations, and meat- and drink-offerings 100 

4. Annual feasts and festivals; sabbatical year and jubilee. 107 

5. Vows 113 

6. Purifications 116 

Numbers: History of the Israelites from the delivering of the 
Law at Sinai to the conquest of the country east of the Jor- 
dan. B. C. 1490 to 1451 : about thirty-eight years and nine 
or ten months 120 

I. Wanderings in the wilderness 120 

II. Conquest of the country east of the Jordan 124 

Deuteronomy: Repetition and confirmation of the Law. B. C. 
1451 : about two months 130 

The last acts of Moses 130 

Canaan prior to its conquest by the Israelites 133 

THE TWELVE HISTORICAL BOOKS 136 

Joshua : History of the conquest of Canaan and settlement in 
the country under Joshua. B. C. 1451 to 1426: about twen- 
ty-five years 136 

I. Conquest of Canaan 136 

II. Settlement in Canaan 141 

Judges : History of the Jews as a federative republic. B. C. 
1425 to 1095: about three hundred and thirty years 145 

I. Period prior to the Judges 145 

II. The seven servitudes or tyrannies, and the fifteen judge- 
ships 149 

(This period includes the first ten chapters in 1 Samuel.) 

Ruth : An episode in the history of the Judges. About B. C. 
1320 162 

1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings: History of the Jews under 
a monarchy. B. C. 1095 to 588 : about five hundred and eight 
years 163 

I. History of the single monarchy 169 

Saul 169 

David 178 

Solomon 191 

Prefatory review of the history of the divided mon- 
archies 199 

II. History of the divided monarchies of Judah and Israel. 201 
First Period : from the revolt of the ten tribes until 
Jehu destroyed the dynasty of Ahab in Israel, 
and slew Ahaziah in Judah 201 



CONTENTS. 5 

PAGE 

Second Period : from the simultaneous accession of 
Jehu in Israel and usurpation of Athaliah in Judah 
until Israel was carried away captive by the Assyr- 
ian power 215 

Third Period: from the Assyrian captivity of Israel 

until the Babylonian captivity of Judah 225 

History of Assyria 238 

1 and 2 Chronicles. B. C. 4004 to 536 : about three thousand 
four hundred and sixty-eight years 238 

History of the Chaldee-Babylonian empire during the seventy 
years' captivity, forming a connection between the 2 Kings 
and 2 Chronicles and the book of Ezra. B. C. 606 to 536 241 

Ezra : History of the edict of Cyrus and first return from cap- 
tivity under Zerubbabel, and the governorship of Ezra. B. C. 
536 to 445 : about ninety years 244 

Nehemiah : History of the government of Nehemiah. B. C. 
445 to 420: about twenty-five years 253 

Esther: An episode. About B. C. 461 to 451 255 

Chronology of the kings of Media and Persia, with their names 
as given in Scripture and in profane history g 257 



THE FIVE POETICAL BOOKS: 258 

Job 258 

Psalms 262 

Proverbs 263 

Ecclesiastes 264 

Solomon's Song 265 



THE SIXTEEN PROPHETICAL BOOKS 26^ 

The Four Greater Prophets 267 

1. Isaiah 267 

2. Jeremiah (Prophecies and Lamentations) 271 

3. Ezekiel 272 

4. Daniel 272 

The Twelve Minor Prophets — viz. 1 . Hosea ; 2. Joel ; 3. Amos ; 
4. Obadiah; 5. Jonah; 6. Micah ; 7. Nahum ; 8. Habakkuk ; 
9. Zephaniah; 10. Haggai; 11. Zechariah ; 12. Malachi 278 

PRINCIPAL PROPHECIES, INTIMATIONS, AND TYPES 
OF THE MESSIAH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT 283 



CONNECTION BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW TESTA- 
MENTS, including the history of the Jews from the admin- 
istration of Nehemiah to the birth of Jesus Christ 288 

1 * 



CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

I. Jewish history from Nehemiah to the revolt under 

the Maccabees 290 

II. History of the Maccabees, or Asamonean princes 299 

III. History of the Jews under the Herodians to the com- 
mencement of the New Testament history 321 

Jewish sects 330 



THE FOURTEEN APOCRYPHAL BOOKS: 

1 Esdras; 2 Esdras; Tobit; Judith; Rest of the chapters of 
the Book of Esther; Wisdom of Solomon; Ecclesiasticus, 
or Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach ; Book of Baruch ; 
Song of the Three Children; History of Susanna; Bel and 
the Dragon ; Prayer of Manasses; 1 and 2 Maccabees 332 

EXAMINATION QUESTIONS, including the Cambridge Exam- 
ination Papers for various years, in chronological order 335 

INDEX OF NAMES, PLACES, ETC 351 



PREFACE 



The success which attended the publication of an 
Analysis and Summary of Herodotus has induced the 
author to compile an Analysis and Summary of Old Tes- 
tament History on a similar plan. Accordingly, the pres- 
ent work contains an Analytical Summary of all the most 
important events recorded in the Old Testament Scrip- 
tures, arranged in chronological order, but retaining the 
canonical division into books. Each book of this Sum- 
mary is separated into divisions, excepting where one 
book contains merely a repetition of the history of a pre- 
ceding one ; and each of these divisions is again subdi- 
vided into paragraphs, all of which have the Contents 
appended in a peculiar type. These Contents are also 
thrown together and reprinted at the beginning of each 
book ; full references are also given at the end of each 
paragraph to the chapters or verses in the Bible in which 
the original facts are recorded. 

By means of these Analytical Contents the biblical 
student can at once see the exact scope and subject-mat- 
ter of each book, and by reading the Summary he will 
easily call back a multitude of facts and events the rela- 
tion of which frequently spreads through several chapters 
in the original ; whilst the references will at once enable 
him to obtain from his Bible a more extended account 

7 



o PREFACE. 

of any particular period of the history which he may 
require. 

In carrying out this general design every opportunity 
has been seized for explaining or illustrating any obscure 
part of Jewish history, and particularly those portions 
which are more frequently the subjects of college exam- 
inations. The authorized chronology of our marginal- 
reference Bibles, which is based upon that of Archbishop 
Usher, is added to every page ; the history of the divided 
monarchies of Judah and Israel is printed in parallel 
columns ; the scriptural and profane names of the kings 
of Media and Persia are given at page 257 ; a chrono- 
logical table of the prophets, at page 266 ; a table of the 
principal prophecies, intimations, and types of the Mes- 
siah, at page 283; examination-questions, including the 
Cambridge examination-papers in Old Testament history 
for various years, in chronological order, at page 335 ; 
and a complete index of names, places, etc., at the end 
of the volume. To these are added an introductory out- 
line of the geography, political history, etc., of every 
country mentioned in the Old Testament, and an outline 
of the critical history of the Scriptures ; together with 
chronological tables. Moreover, in order to complete the 
book as an analysis of Jewish history, two connecting 
chapters have been inserted : I. A history of the Chal- 
dee-Babylonian empire during the seventy years' cap- 
tivity, which forms a connection between 2 Kings and 
2 Chronicles and the book of Ezra ; II. Jewish history 
from the governorship of Nehemiah to the taking of Je- 
rusalem by Titus, which forms a connection between the 
Old and the New Testaments. A comprehensive analysis 
of the Mosaic laws and ordinances has also been included. 
The moral and civil law is classified under each com- 
mandment, both for the convenience of reference, and 
because by such arrangement they are made to form a 



PREFACE. y 

very useful and practical commentary upon the Deca- 
logue. This classification is based upon a harmony of 
the Mosaic law, taken from a manuscript presented to St. 
John's College by Archbishop Laud, and reprinted in 
Home's Introduction, and other similar works. The cer- 
emonial law has been chiefly arranged according to the 
classification of Michaelis. 

In conclusion, the author must acknowledge his many 
obligations to the following works : to the valuable Intro- 
duction to the Study of the Holy Scriptures, by the Rev. 
T. H. Home ; The Historical Researches and Manual of 
Ancient History, by Professor Heeren, of the University 
of Gottingen; the Commentaries of Patrick, Lowth, 
Whitby, etc.; the Oxford Chronological Tables, publish- 
ed by the lamented Mr. D. A. Talboys ; and the Works 
of Dean Prideaux, Jahn, Calmet, Michaelis, Tomline, 
Bishop Home, etc., etc. 

J. T. W. 

Cambridge, Jan. 20, 1850. 



NOTICE. 



In giving to the Christian public this very remarkable 
book, it is believed a great kindness will be done to every 
lover of the Bible. The analysis and arrangement seem 
to be almost perfect, and withal so simple that a child 
may understand them. To the student of the Bible The 
Analysis and Summary will supply a place which, it is 
believed, no other book can fill. The full merit of this 
book is to be found not only in the almost incredible 
amount of information it contains, but in the wonderful 
arrangement of the author, by which the reader can find 
just what he wants and when he wants it. To all mem- 
bers of Bible classes, teachers in Sabbath and secular 
schools, and in all family instruction, this book, it is fully 
believed, will prove one of the best of human helps in 

the study of the word of God. 
10 



INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE 

OP 

I. THE HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY OF THE COUN- 
TRIES NOTICED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT; 

II. THE CRITICAL HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTA- 
MENT. 



I. THE HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY. 



ANALYSIS. 

The "World" of the Old Testament — in four divisions; viz. 

I. Egypt. 
Boundaries and divisions. — Political history. — Religion.— Commerce 
and manufactures. 

II. Countries between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates. 

1st. Asia Minor — in twelve provinces. 

2d. Syria Proper. — Geography. — Political history. 

3d. Phoenicia. — Geography. — Political history. — Colonies. — Sea 
trade. — Land trade. — Home manufactures. 

4th. Arabia. — Geography. — Political history. — Divisions: Moabites, 
Ammonites, and Edomites. 

5th. Palestine. — Geography: divisions — viz. 1st. Into twelve tribes ; 
2d. Into a single monarchy ; 3d. Into the two monarchies of Judah and 
Israel; 4th. Into five districts. — The Philistines. — Political history : 1. 
The nomad state, 1921-1426; 2. The federative republic, 1426-1095 ; 3. 
The single monarchy, 1095-975; 4. The divided monarchy of Judah 
and Israel, 975-588: 5. The province and principality, B. c. 588 to A. D. 
70. — Productions. — Commerce. 

III. Countries between the Euphrates and the Tigris. 
1st. Mesopotamia, or Aram, or Padan-aram. 
2d. Armenia, containing the garden of Eden. 

3d. Babylonia, or the laud of Shinar. — Geography. — Political his- 
tory. — Commerce. 

11 



12 INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 

IV. Countries between the Tigris and Indus. 

Eleven provinces, sometimes forming one empire. — Character of the 
great Asiatic empires. -^-Ruling empires of South-western Asia : viz. 
1st. Assyria. — Geography of Assyria Proper. — Political history. 
2d. Media. — Geography. — Political history. 
3d. Persia. — Geography. — Political history. — Religion. 



SUMMARY. 

1. The "World" of the Old Testament.— The nations 
whose history is noticed in the Old Testament lay between 
the 40th degree north lat. and the equator, and were included 
in the tracts of South-western Asia and the territory of Egypt.* 
The " world" of Old Testament history was therefore bounded 
on the east by the rivers Oxus and Indus ; on the south by 
the Indian Ocean ; on the west by the Libyan desert (Saha- 
ra) ; and on the north by the Caspian and Euxine Seas, with 
the intervening range of Caucasus, whose lofty summits 
were never crossed by any Asiatic conqueror before Genghis 
Khan. . 

This region may be divided into four tracts — viz. 1. Egypt; 
2. Countries between the Euphrates and the Mediterranean 
and Eed Seas ; 3. Those between the Euphrates and the Ti- 
gris ; 4. Those between the Tigris and the Indus. 

2. I. Egypt: Boundaries. — Egypt is redeemed from the sur- 
rounding desert by the waters of the Nile, and is bounded on 
the north by the Mediterranean ; on the east by the Eed Sea; 
on the south by the Nubian desert and Ethiopia ; and on the 
west by the Libyan desert. 

3. Divisions. — 1st. Upper or Southern Egypt, or Thebaic, ex- 
tending from Syene to Chemmis; crowded with temples, pal- 
aces, tombs, huge obelisks, colossi, sphinxes, etc. Capital, 
Thebes. 

2d. Central Egypt, from Chemmis to Cercasorus; divided 
into seven nomoi or governments ; contained the pyramids 
of Gizeh and Lake Mceris. Capital, Memphis. 

3d. Lower or Northern Egypt, comprising the Delta and land 
on both sides. Full of cities, of which Sais was the most re- 
markable ; but subsequently Alexandria became the capital, 
and the first trading city in the world. 

* Some allusions are made to the "isles of the sea," which included 
the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean (Isa. xi. 11 : E/.ek. xvii. 3, 
etc.); also to "Javan," or " Greece" (Isa. lxvi. 19. etc.), and to " Tar- 
shish" or " Tartessus," a Tyrian colony on the southern coast of Spain. 
Isa. xxiii., etc. India is twice mentioned in the book of Esther, but 
must have been unknown to the Jews. 



INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 13 

4. Political History. — Egypt was governed by a monarchy 
and sacerdotal aristocracy. 

1. The Pharaohs. — 1st dynasty — Menes and his successors. 
2d dynasty — Shepherd-kings, who were Bedouin Arabs, and 
termed Hyksos. 3d dynasty — Sesostris the Great to the 
overthrow of the oligarchy of twelve princes, about B. c. 650; 
Shishak (probably Cephrines) invaded Judah in the reign 
of Rehoboam, b. c. 972 (sect. 375). 4th dynasty — Psammeti- 
chus, sole king to the conquest of Egypt by Cambyses, B. c. 
650-525. Pharaoh-Necho, who defeated Josiah (sect. 528), 
and Pharaoh-Hophra, or Apries, who tried to assist Zedekiah 
(sect. 548), belonged to this time. 

2. The Persians, 525-323.— -Egypt was conquered by Cam- 
byses, and was a Persian province, though frequently revolt- 
ing, until the overthrow of the empire by Alexander the 
Great, who died b. c. 323. 

3. The Ptolemies, 323-30.— Ptolemy Lagus, first governor, 
and afterward king, of Egypt, which remained an independ- 
ent monarchy until the death of Cleopatra, b. c. 30, when it 
became a Roman province. 

5. Religion. — Animal idolatry; but different animals were 
sacred in different districts, except Apis, who was the nation- 
al god of all Egypt. 

6. Commerce, Manufactures, etc. — Imports. — Gold, ivory, 
and slaves from Ethiopia; incense from Arabia; wine from 
Greece and Phoenicia; salt from the African desert. 

Exports. — Corn, linen, and cotton. The Egyptians did not 
themselves export these wares; the African caravans were 
chiefly composed of nomad hordes. 

Manufactures. — Weaving, dyeing, working in metal, and 
pottery. 

Productions. — The byblus, from which the papyrus was pre- 
pared ; the lotus; flax; various kinds of grain, pulse, etc.; 
no lofty trees but the date and sycamore. 

7. II. Countries between the Mediterranean and the 
Euphrates.— These comprise— 1st. Asia Minor; 2d. Syria 
Proper; 3d. Phfenicia; 4th. Arabia; and 5th. Palestine. 

8. 1st. Asia Minor. — Anciently consisted of twelve provinces, 
which are mentioned only in the New Testament — viz. Bithy- 
nia, Paphlagonia, Pontus, Mysia, Lydia, Caria, Lycia, Pisidia 
and Pamphylia, Cilicia, Phrygia and Lycaonia, Galatia, and 
Cappadocia. 

9. 2d. Syria Proper: Geography. — Syria, or Aram, in its 
widest signification, included not only all the countries be- 
tween the Mediterranean and the Euphrates, but also those 
between the Euphrates and the Tigris, and even Assyria 
Proper, and was thus the first habitation of mankind after 
the deluge, and included the birthplace of Abraham, and prob- 

2 



14 INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 

ably the garden of Eden. Syria Proper was, however, 
bounded on the east by the Euphrates, west by the Mediter- 
ranean, north by Cilicia, and south by Phoenicia, Palestine, 
and Arabia Deserta. Cities, Damascus, Antioch, Eiblah, 
Helbon, Hamath, Seleucia, Tadraor or Palmyra, Baal-Gad 
or Heliopolis, now Baalbec, and Tiphsah or Thapsacus. 
Rivers, Abana, Pharpar, and Orontes. 

10. Political History. — 1. Independent States, ante lO^O. — 
Syria Proper was divided into cantons, such as Zobah, Da- 
mascus, Hamath, Geshur, Rehob, Ishtob, Maachah, etc., and 
these were governed by petty kings. 

2. A Jewish Province, cir. 1040-975. — David reduced Syria 
to a Jewish province, but in Solomon's reign Rezon seized 
Damascus and erected a kingdom. 

3. Kingdom of Damascus, 975-7^0. — The kingdom of Da- 
mascus now comprised the greater portion of Syria; the 
kings of the other cities became tributary, and it soon be- 
came a flourishing monarchy, and extended its boundaries 
chiefly at the expense of the divided monarchies of Judah 
and Israel (see sect. 491) ; but it was at length overthrown by 
the Assyrian conqueror Tiglath-pileser. 

4. A Dependent State, 74O-64. — Syria was successively in 
subjection to Assyria, Babylonia, and Persia, and was at 
length reduced by Alexander the Great ; but after his death, 
b. c. 323, it formed part of the kingdom of Syria, which ex- 
tended from the Mediterranean to the Indus, and was gov- 
erned by the Seleucidse until b. c. 64, when it became a 
Roman province. 

11. 3d. Phoenicia : Geography. — Phoenicia was a moun- 
tainous tract extending along the shore between Syria 
Proper and the Mediterranean. Cities, Tyre, built first on 
the mainland, afterward on an island, Sidon, Byblus, Bery- 
tus, Tripolis, and Aradus. Mountains, Lebanon, consisting 
of two parallel ridges, Libanus and Anti-Libanus, which 
extended from Sidon to Damascus, and enclosed the fertile 
vale of Ccele-Syria, now Baalbec. 

12. Political History. — Consisted of several cities and their 
territories under separate governments, of which Tyre was 
the head. 

1. T>/rian kings, cir. 1050-586. — This line of kings, extract- 
ed by Joseph us from Menander, commenced with Abical, the 
contemporary of David, and concluded with the sacking of 
Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar. Hiram, successor of Abical, allied 
with David and Solomon. Three remarkable females be- 
longed to this line: Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal I., and 
wife of Ahab — paganized Israel; Athaliah, daughter of 
Jezebel and Ahab — usurped Judah ; Dido, sister of Pygma- 
lion — founded Carthage. 



INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 15 

2. Tributary to Persia, 586-382. — New Tyre was afterward 
founded, with tributary kings under the Persian rule, but was 
taken by Alexander the Great, B. c. 332. 

3. Decline. — Phoenicia was now ruined and its trade trans- 
ferred to Alexandria. It often changed its Syro-Grecian 
and Egypto-Grecian masters, and at length fell into the hands 
of the Romans. 

13. Colonies. — The Phoenicians were originally pirates and 
anciently possessed many islands in the Archipelago, but 
were expelled by the Greeks. They subsequently formed 
settlements on the south of Spain — Tartessus, Gades, Car- 
teia ; on the north coast of Africa — Utica, Carthage, Adru- 
mentum; on the north-western coast of Sicily — Panormus 
and Lilybseum ; and also probably settled in the Persian 
Gulf, on the islands of Tylos and Aradus — Bahrein. 

14. Sea Trade. — The Phoenicians sailed — 1st. To North 
Africa and Spain for silver; 2d. Beyond the Pillars of Her- 
cules to Britain and the Scilly Isles for tin, and probably 
amber ; 3d. They joined the Jews under Solomon in voyages 
from Elath and Eziongeber on the Red Sea to Ophir — i. e. 
the rich lands in the south, particularly Arabia Felix and 
Ethiopia (sect. 357) ; 4th. From the Persian Gulf to India 
and Ceylon ; 5th. On voyages of discovery, and, particularly, 
they circumnavigated Africa. 

15. Land Trade. — This was mostly carried on by caravans — 
viz. 1st. With Arabia for spices and incense, imported from 
Arabia Felix, Gerrha, and the Persian Gulf; 2d. Through 
Palmyra to Babylon, which opened an indirect communi- 
cation, by way of Persia, with Lesser Bukharia and Lit- 
tle Thibet, and probably with China; 3d. With Armenia 
and neighboring countries for slaves, horses, copper uten- 
sils, etc.* 

16. Home Manufactures. — 1st. Stuffs and dyes, particular- 
ly the purple dye made from the juice of a marine shell-fish, 
and of every possible shade ; 2d. Manufactures of glass and 
toys, much used in their commercial barterings with uncivil- 
ized nations. The invention of letters is attributed to the 
Phoenicians. 

17. 4th. Arabia: Geography.— A peninsula abounding in 
vast sandy deserts, and chiefly occupied by the nomad de- 
scendants of Ishmael ; but its northern and eastern coasts 
rendered it a most important scat of trade. 

18. Divisions. — 1st. North, Arabia J J etrcea, extending from 
Palestine to the Red Sea, and inhabited by the southern 
Edomites,Amalekites, Midianites, Hivites, Aniorites, Kenites, 



• The twenty-seventh chapter of Eeekiel contains an exact and in- 
teresting account of L'huenician commerce. 



16 INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 

Horim, Maonim, and Cushites, called Ethiopians in Scrip- 
ture. Capital, Petra. Mountain, Sinai. 

2d. Inland, Arabia Deserta, with Euphrates on the east and 
Mount Gilead on the west, and comprehended the Itureans, 
Nabatheans, people of Kedar, etc. The Rephaim, Emim, 
Zuzim, and Zanzummim (Gen. xiv. 5; Deut. ii. 10, 11) an- 
ciently possessed the territories afterward occupied by the 
Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites. 

3d. South, Arabia Felix, bounded on the east by the Per- 
sian Gulf, south by the Indian Ocean, and west by the Red 
Sea. Rich in spices and perfumes, particularly frankin- 
cense, and rich also as being the ancient staple for Indian 
merchandise. Probably included the territory of the queen 
of Sheba. 

19. Political History. — Arabians are divided into two 
classes : 1st. Dwellers in cities ; 2d. Nomads. Abimelech, 
king of Gerar, was visited by Abraham and Isaac. Moses, 
after slaying the Egyptian, fled to the Midianites, descend- 
ants of the fourth son of Abraham and Keturah, who subse- 
quently joined the Amalekites and other nomad Arabs in 
ravaging Palestine (sect. 279). The Amorites, Amalekites, 
and others were conquered by Moses. The Moabites, Am- 
monites, and Edomites were petty kingdoms frequently at 
war with the Israelites, and lay on the east of the Jordan. 

20. Moabites. — Incestuously descended from Lot ; defeated 
the giants Emim, and occupied a territory on the banks of 
the Arnon. Capital, Ar or Ariel, called also Rabbah-Moab 
and Kirharesh. Idols, Chemosh and Baal-peor. Lost terri- 
tory to the Amorites, but not attacked by Moses, though 
Balak tried to persuade Balaam to curse the Israelites. Eg- 
lon subsequently oppressed Israel (sect. 276), but was assas- 
sinated by Ehud. Saul subdued them (sect. 308), and David 
(sect. 329), but after the death of Ahab its king, Mesha, re- 
fused to pay tribute (sect. 423), and was closely besieged by 
Jehoshaphat and Jehoram in his capital, and sacrificed his eld- 
est son on the wall (sect. 429). Moab was afterward carried cap- 
tive by Assyria, and probably followed the fortunes of Israel. 

21. Ammonites. — Incestuously descended from Lot; sub- 
dued the Zanzummim, and occupied their country north- 
east of the Moabites. Capital, Rabbath. Lost territory to 
the Amorites, which was afterward occupied by the tribes 
east of the Jordan. Assisted Moab in conquering Canaan 
(sect. 276), but were defeated by Jephthah (sect. 291), by 
Saul (sect. 306), and by David (sect. 331), and Rabbath was 
taken by Joab (sect. 333). They subsequently united with 
the Edomites and Moabites in attacking Judah, but were de- 
feated by Jehoshaphat (sect. 422). Their country afterward 
followed the fortunes of Israel. 



INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 17 

22. Edomites. — Descendants of Esau; settled in Mount 
Seir, in the land of the Horites, and spread through Arabia 
Petraea from the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean. Capitals, 
Bozra and Petra. First governed by dukes or princes, after- 
ward by kings, but subdued by Saul (sect. 308), by David 
(sect. 329). Hadad became an independent king toward 
the close of Solomon's reign (sect. 362). In Jehoram's reign 
Edom rebelled, and Amaziah subsequently took Petra and 
obliged ten thousand people to leap from the rock (sect. 464). 
It was subsequently ravaged by Nebuchadnezzar (sect. 559), 
and conquered by John Hyrcanus (Con., sect. 45). 

23. 5th. Palestine : Geography. — Palestine Proper was 
bounded on the north by Syria and Phoenicia, on the east by 
Arabia Deserta, on the south by Arabia Petraea, and on the 
west by the Mediterranean. The limits of the territory were, 
however, perpetually changing. Under the judges the coun- 
try east of the Jordan was often oppressed by the Ammonites 
and Moabites, whilst the Philistines held a considerable dis- 
trict in South-western Judah. Under David and Solomon 
the limits of the kingdom were much enlarged, extending 
from the Euphrates to the Red Sea, and from the Mediterra- 
nean to Arabia Deserta, thus comprising Syria Proper and 
Philistia, Moab and Amnion in Arabia Deserta, and nearly 
all Arabia Petraea, including Edom, etc. Mountains, Gilead, 
Cannel, Tabor, Hermon, Gilboa, and Lebanon. Rivers, Jor- 
dan, Arnon, Jabbok, and Kishon. Lakes, Merom, Gennesa- 
reth, and the Dead Sea. 

24. Divisions : 1st. Into Twelve Tribes by Joshua (sect. 
263), during which the tabernacle was set up in Shiloh. The 
territory of each tribe was subdivided according to the fami- 
lies (sect. 128). 

25. 2d. Into a Single Monarchy, during the reigns of Saul, 
David, and Solomon. Capital, Jebus or Jerusalem. 

26. 3d. Into the two Monarchies of Judah and Israel. — Judah 
comprised two tribes. Capital, Jerusalem. Israel comprised 
ten tribes. Capital, first Shechem, then Tirzah, and finally 
Samaria. 

27. 4th. Into five Districts, under, successively, the Per- 
sians, Ptolemies, Selcucidae, Asamoneans, Herodians, and 
Romans, West of the Jordan. — 1st. Judaea, on the south. 
Capital, Jerusalem. 2d. Samaria, in the centre. Cities, Sa- 
maria, or Sebaste, and Sichem. 3d. Galilee, on the north. 
Towns, Nazareth, Can a, Bethsaida, etc. East of the Jor- 
dan. — 4th. Peraea.* Cities, Pella, Machaerus, etc. On the 
South. — 5th. Idumsea, the ancient Edoin. 



:; Division of Peraea. — Peraea, which signifies "the country on the oppo- 
site side," was a general name for any district belonging to or closely con- 

2* B 



18 INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 

28. Political History. — A spirit of theocracy prevailed more 
or less throughout every form of Jewish government. 

29. I. The Nomad State, 1921-1426, from Abraham until the 
death of Joshua. — 1st period — Patriarchal government under 
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, 1921-1706. Canaan occupied 
by ten races: Kenites, Kenizzites, and Kadmonites east of 
the Jordan ; west, by the Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaims, Am- 
orites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites. Divided into 
states governed by petty kings, many of whom were subdued 
by Chedorlaomer, king of Elam or ancient Persia (sect. 24). 
2d period — Israelites divided into ten tribes, resided in Egypt, 
1706-1491. Dynasty of Menes expelled by the Hyksos or 
Shepherd-kings, and the Israelites reduced to slavery and 
their male infants slain. Moses born, 1571. 3d period — A 
strict theocracy during the wanderings in the wilderness un- 
der Moses, and conquest of Canaan under Joshua, 1491-1426. 
Exode from Egypt; law delivered on Mount Sinai, 1490; 
Moses died, 1451 ; Joshua died, 1426. 

30. 2. The Federative Republic, 1426-1095.— Each tribe 
was governed by its own patriarch, but all were united in one 
federate state and one common bond by the worship of Je- 
hovah ; introduction of idolatry punished by the oppression 
of neighboring powers ; heroes or judges raised up at various 
times to deliver the people, and govern them in the spirit of 
theocracy ; ill-government of Samuel's sons induced the peo- 
ple to demand a king. 

31. 3. The Single Monarchy, 1065-975. — Saul made king, 
but acted in opposition to the divine commands. David suc- 
ceeded him, and extended his dominions to the Euphrates and 
Eed Sea, and made Palestine the ruling monarchy in Western 
Asia. His son Solomon succeeded and allied with the Phoe- 
nicians, and carried on an extensive commerce by land and 
sea. Built the temple, but afterward tempted, to idolatry, 
and the nations conquered by David rebelled. 

32. 4. The Divided Monarchy of Judah and Israel, 975-588.— 
Rehoboam, son of Solomon, refused to lighten the people from 
the heavy taxation imposed by Solomon, and the ten tribes 
revolted under Jeroboam. The kings of Israel introduced 

nected with a country from the main part of which it was separated by a 
sea or river. The name Periva was therefore applied in its more extended 
sense to the whole territory stretching from the river Arnon to Mount Her- 
mon, between the Jordan and the desert, and was subdivided into eight 
districts or cantons — viz. ] . Pergea. in the more limited sense, which only 
extended from the Arnon to the Jabbok ; 2. Gilead, or Galaaditis; 3. 
Deeapolis, or Ten Cities, of which little is known for certain; 4. Gau- 
lonitis; 5. Batanea, the ancient Bashan ; 6. Itura:a or Auranitis; 7. 
Trachonitis; 8. Abilene, in the extreme north, among the mountains 
of Anti-Libanus, between Baalbec and Damascus. 



INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 19 

idolatry to prevent their subjects from worshipping at Jeru- 
salem ; and, defying the warnings of Elisha, Elijah, and other 
prophets, the nation was carried into Assyrian captivity by 
Shalmaneser, B. c. 721. The early kings of Judah reigned 
righteously, but subsequently allied and intermarried with 
the kings of Israel and followed in their idolatrous steps ; 
and though Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others warned the people, 
and Hezekiah, Josiah, and other good kings deferred the 
punishment of the kingdom, yet the nation was at length 
carried into Babylonian captivity, B. c. 588. 

33. 6. The Province and Principality, B. C. 588 to A. D. 70. 
— 1st. The Babylonian Captivity, 606-536, reckoning from the 
first taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar to the edict of 
Cyrus, lasted seventy years, during which time the land lay 
desolate. 

2d. The Persians, 536-323. — Cyrus, having overthrown the 
Babylonian empire and established the Medo-Persian, per- 
mitted the Jews to return to Judaea under Zerubbabel (sect. 
572). They were subsequently governed by their high priests, 
under the satrap of Syria, and paid tribute to Persia. Alex- 
ander the Great overthrew the empire b. c. 330, and died B. c. 
323. 

3d. The Successors of Alexander, 323-300. — Violent disputes 
broke out amongst Alexander's generals after his death, and 
Palestine frequently changed masters, until a permanent 
treaty was established between the four kings. 

4th. The Ptolemies, 300-202.— -The high priests governed the 
Jews and farmed the revenues under the Ptolemies. Flour- 
ishing period of Jewish literature, and completion of the Sep- 
tuagint. 

5th. The Seleucidce, 202-166.— Antiochus III., or the Great, 
wrested Palestine from Ptolemy V., or Epiphanes, and the 
Jews now paid tribute to Syria, but were governed by their 
own high priests and Sanhedrim. Antiochus IV., or Epi- 
phanes, persecuted the Jews for not following the Greek 
idolatry, and the latter revolted under Mattathias, who 
died b" c. 166. 

6th. The Maccabees, 166-37. — War under Judas Maccabceus 
and his successors for religious freedom, not for political in- 
dependence, and the Jews still paid tribute to Syria; but in 
b. c. 143, Demetrius Nicator acknowledged the independence 
of the Jews, and relinquished all claims for taxes. The quar- 
rels between Hyrcanus IT. and Antigonus and their appeal 
to Pompey made the Jewish state dependent on Rome, and 
Herod, having obtained the favor of Antony by gifts and as- 
siduous attention, was made king of Judaea. 

7th. The Herodians and Romans, B. C. 37 to A. D. 70.— Our 
Saviour was born B. c. 4, and Heiod died B. C. 3. His king- 



20 INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 

dom was divided by his three sons into three tetrarchies, 
which were subsequently appended to Syria and became a 
Roman province.* Our Lord was crucified under Pontius 
Pilate, a Roman procurator, A. d. 29, in the thirty-third year 
of his age. The Jews rebelled under Gessius Florus. Titus 
destroyed Jerusalem, a. d. 70. 

34. Productions. — Wheat, honey, grapes, oil, olives, pome- 
granates, apples, figs, almonds, citrons, balm, etc. The prin- 
cipal shrubs, herbs, and trees are aloe, hyssop, the rose, spike- 
nard, mandrake (a species of melon), myrtle, mustard tree, 
cedar, oak, palm, etc. The mountains contained iron and 
copper. The valleys afforded capital pasture for sheep, oxen, 
goats, camels, and asses. The rivers and lakes abounded in 
fish, which were cured by salt from the Dead Sea. 

35. Commerce. — Palestine was an agricultural country, but 
allied with Phoenicia during the reigns of David and Solo- 
mon, and carried on an extensive commerce by land and sea. 
(See sect. 357.) 

36. Philistia : Geography. — Philistia was a small territory 
bordering on the south-west of Judaea. Cities, Ekron, Gath, 
Askelon, Ashdod, and Gaza. 

37. Political History. — The Philistines were not Canaan- 
ites, but originally Egyptians from the Pelusiac branch of 
the Nile, and they had migrated from Caphtor (Cyprus) not 
long before the arrival of the Hebrews, and expelled the 
Avim from the low country in Southern Palestine, and there 
established five governments or lordships in five cities. They 
were defeated by Shamgar and Samson (sect. 277 and 297), 
and by Saul (sect. 307), and rendered tributary by David 
(sect. 329). They revolted under Jehoram (sect. 436), but 
were defeated by Uzziah (sect. 472), and again rebelled from 
Ahaz (sect. 493), but were reduced by Hezekiah (sect. 506). 
They subsequently suffered from the same enemies as the 
Jews, but were at length wholly subdued by Alexander Jan- 
naeus. 

38. III. Countries between the Euphrates and the Tigris. — 
These comprised — 1st. Mesopotamia; 2d. Armenia; and 3d. 
Babylonia. 

39. 1st. Mesopotamia, or Aram, or Padan-aram, anciently 
included both Armenia and Babylonia, and even part of 
Syria, and is considered to be the first habitation of mankind 
after the deluge, and gave birth to Terah, Abraham, Nahor, 
Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, and the sons of Jacob. Mesopotamia 
Proper consisted of a table-land occupied by nomad hordes, 
with Armenia on the north and Babylonia on the south, and 

* See the Analysis and Summary of New Testament History, by the 
author of the present volume. 



INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 21 

it successively became a part of the Assyrian, Persian, Mace- 
donian, and Syrian empires. 

40. 2d. Armenia was a mountainous territory north of 
Mesopotamia, watered by the rivers Cyrus, Araxes, and 
Phasis. It is supposed to have included the garden of Eden, 
and its history is similar to that of Mesopotamia. 

41. 3d. Babylonia, or the Land of Shinar: Geography. — 
Babylonia was a level plain south of Mesopotamia Proper, 
remarkable for the richness of its soil. Anciently, by its 
high cultivation, its canals and lakes, and the erection of 
dams, it was the most fruitful, and from its situation the 
most opulent, state of Inner Asia. Capital, Babylon, on 
the Euphrates. 

42. Political History. — 1st Period, prior to the Chaldean 
Conquest, cir. B. C. £234-626.— Mmrod founded Babel or 
Babylon, from whence Asshur migrated and founded Assyria, 
which was afterward conquered by Nimrod. See "Assyria" 
and sect. 16, note. 

2d. From the Chaldean Conquest to the taking of Babylon by 
Cyrus, B. C. 626-589. — The Chaldeans, a nomad race, de- 
scended from Caucasus and Taurus, overwhelmed Southern 
Asia, and mastered Babylonia.* (See sect. 535.) Ptolemy 
enumerates thirteen Chaldean kings as reigning prior to this 
conquest of Babylonia, which seems to have been completed 
by Nabopolassar, whose son and successor, Nebuchadnezzar, 
subdued Asia from the Mediterranean to the Tigris, and 
founded the Chaldee- Babylonian empire. For a history of 
Nebuchadnezzar and his successors down to the taking of 
Babylon by Cyrus, see sect. 558-570. Babylon subsequently 
followed the fortunes of the Persian empire. 

43. Commerce. — Babylon owed its extensive commerce to 
its superior geographical position, which, while it afforded 
admirable facilities for traffic by land, was equally conve- 
nient for maritime and river navigation on the Euphrates 
and Tigris and the Persian Gulf. By land the Babylonians 
imported from the countries east of Persia — 1st. Onyxes, 
sardines, emeralds, jaspers, etc., which they obtained from 
the Ghaut Mountains and Bactrian desert; 2d. Indian dogs, 
dyes, wool, gold, and gold-dust;, 3d. Silk from China, etc. 
By sea they imported — 1st. Incense from Arabia ; 2d. Cot- 
ton, spices, ivory, ebony, etc., from India; 3d. Bamboos, 

• Mr. Orote {Greece, iii. p. .'592, third edit.), resting on Herodotus 
and Rtrabo, can see nothing in the Chaldeans but Babylonian priests. 
This was certainly their later position (or the later use of their name), 
but the Chaldeans are familiarly spoken of by the prophets as coming 
from the north, and Ur of the Chaldees was in Northern Mesopotamia. 
Magians and Chaldeans seem both to have fallen from dominant tribes 
into priesthoods. 



22 INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 

teak-wood, etc., from Tylos; 4th. Cinnamon from Ceylon; 
5th. Pearls from the Persian Gulf, etc. Their chief manu- 
factures were woven stuffs, carpets, brilliantly-colored and 
finely-textured cottons, of which the principal factories were 
at Borsippa on the Euphrates, about fifteen miles from Baby- 
lon. They were also famous for their sweet waters, engraving 
on precious stones, seal-rings, chased walking-sticks, costly 
perfumes, etc. 

44. IV. Countries between the Tigris and Indus. — These 
comprised, 1. Assyria, or the province of Adiabene; 2. Su- 
siana ; 3. Persis ; 4. Carmania ; 5. Gedrosia ; 6. Media ; 7. 
Aria; 8. Arachosia; 9. Parthia and Hyrcanus; 10. Bactria; 
11. Sogdiana. The empires successively founded by Assyria, 
Babylonia, Media, and Persia included, however, the princi- 
pal portions of this territory. 

45. Character of the great Asiatic Empires. — The mighty 
empires of the East were, with the exception of the one 
founded by Alexander, erected by warlike nomad hordes, 
who, pressed by necessity or circumstances, forsook their 
northern and sterile climes to carry war and conquest into 
the fruitful and cultivated lands of Southern Asia. Here 
they established a brilliant but evanescent empire, for they 
quickly adopted the luxurious habits of the vanquished na- 
tions, and consequently were soon overthrown by fresh swarms 
of uncorrupted warriors, who also in their turn degenerated 
and gave way to new invaders. The general features in the 
gradual internal development of all empires formed by nomad 
conquerors are — 1st. The mere occupation of rich territories 
and levying of tribute, when the constitutions already estab- 
lished among the conquered or tributary nations are gener- 
ally suffered to remain ; 2d. The gradual progress toward 
the adoption of a fixed abode and the building of cities, 
together with the assumption of the customs and civiliza- 
tion of the conquered ; 3d. The division into provinces, and, 
as a necessary consequence, the establishment of satrap gov- 
ernment; 4th. Insurrections of the satraps and pernicious 
influence of the seraglio, which quickly produce the dissolu- 
tion of the empire or its total annihilation by some violent 
attack from without. 

46. Ruling Empires of South-western Asia: 1st. Assyria. — 
Assyria Proper, or the province of Adiabene, consisted of a 
table-land east of the Tigris, having Armenia on the north, 
Mesopotamia on the west, Babylonia on the south, and Me- 
dia and Susiana on the east. Cities, Nineveh (Ninus) and 
Arbela. "Assyria" was, however, a name given to an an- 
cient and vast empire erected among the nations bordering 
on the Euphrates and Tigris, and included, according to 
Strabo and other geographers, all the Asiatic countries south 



INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 23 

of the Taurus, excepting Persia, Arabia Proper, and Pales- 
tine. 

47. Political History. — 1. Primeval Period. — Asshur, or As- 
sur, third son of Shem, migrated from the land of Shinar to 
the country called, after him, Assyria, which was afterward 
subdued by Nimrod, son of Cush, who built Nineveh on the 
Tigris, and named it after his son Ninus. (See sect. 486, 
note.) Nineveh became a great city in the time of Jonah, 
cir. b. c. 862. Mythical accounts of Ninus, Semiramis, Nin- 
yas, etc. 

2. Jewish Period. — Line of kings recorded in Scripture B. c. 
771-604: Pul, Tiglath-pileser, Shalmaneser, Sennacherib, and 
Esarhaddon. Seat of the nation in Assyria Proper. Israel 
carried into captivity by Shalmaneser, b. c. 721. Sennacherib 
invaded Egypt and his army destroyed by an angel of the 
Lord, B. c. 710. Medes revolted from Assyria and formed a 
separate empire under Deioces, b. c. 709. Babylon separated 
from the Assyrian empire, b. o. 626. Babylonians and Medes 
take Nineveh, b. c. 612. (See sect. 535.) 

48. 2d. Media. — Media Proper lay north of Persis, and 
was an extensive and very fruitful country, mountainous to- 
ward the north. Rivers, Araxes, Cyrus, and Mardus. Cities, 
Ecbatana and Rages. The name of Medes, however, is fre- 
quently used as a common appellation of the ruling nations 
in Western Asia, from Tigris to the Indus, or Persia (in the 
more extensive sense of that word) before Cyrus. It is gen- 
erally noticed in Scripture as a conquering nation. 

49. Political History. — Medes revolted from Assyria, B. c. 
709, and formed a separate empire under Deioces [Arphax- 
ad], who founded Ecbatana, allied with the Babylonians, 
and took Nineveh, B. c. 612. (See sect. 535.) The empire 
of the Medes now became a ruling monarchy in Asia, and 
extended its conquests from the Tigris to the Indus, whilst 
the Chaldee-Baby Ionian empire subdued the countries from 
the Tigris to the Mediterranean. Darius the Mede (Cyax- 
ares II.) died B. c. 537, and was succeeded by Cyrus the Per- 
sian, when Media Proper became a province of the Persian 
empire. 

50. 3d. Persia. — Persis, or Persia Proper, lay north of Me- 
dia. It was rugged and mountainous toward the north, level 
and fruitful in the centre, and sandy toward the south. Riv- 
ers, the Cyrus and Araxes. City, Persepolis, or Pasargada, 
the national palace and cemetery of the kings of Persia. 
"Persia" subsequently became the designation of the vast 
empire established by Cyrus. 

51. Political History. — Primitive Condition. — The Pcrshins 
were a highland people, subject to the Medes, dwelling in tin 1 
mountainous parts of the province of Persis, and leading a 



24 INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 

nomad life. They were divided into ten clans, of which that 
of the Pasargadse was the noblest and the ruling horde. 

Cyrus, or Kai Kliosru, cir. B. C. 560-530. — His early life is 
obscured by romance, but it is evident that he was elected 
chief of all the Persian tribes, then subject to Media, in the 
same way as Genghis Khan in a later age was placed at the 
head of all the Mogul hordes. Three ruling monarchies now 
existed in Asia: 1. The Medes, from the Tigris to the Indus; 
2. The Babylonians, or Chaldeans, from the Tigris to the Med- 
iterranean; 3. The Lydians, who, under their king Croesus, 
had conquered the greater part of Asia Minor, to the river 
Halys. Cyrus overthrew the Medes, or Medo-Bactrian em- 
pire, by the defeat of Astyages, subdued all the Lydian ter- 
ritory, seized the Greek colonies in Asia, captured Babylonia, 
and subjugated the Phoenicians. In b. c. 536 he granted an 
edict permitting the Jews to return from captivity. Cyrus, 
having extended the frontiers of the Persian empire in South- 
ern Asia to the Mediterranean, the Oxus, and the Indus, made 
an unsuccessful campaign against the Massagetse (the nomad 
races inhabiting the steppes of Central Asia), and fell in the 
contest (sect. 576). 

Cambyses, 530-522. — The Ahasuerus of Ezra iv. 6 ; conquered 
Egypt, but was unsuccessful against the Ammonians and Ethi- 
opians. Magians revolt. (See sect. 576.) 

Smerdis Magus, 522. — The Artaxerxes of Ezra iv. 7-23. An 
usurper. (See sect. 577.) 

Darius Hystaspis, 521-485. — Called Darius the Mede. Ezra 
iv. 4 ; vi. Invaded Scythia. Babylon revolted and was re- 
taken. Ionian colonies in Asia revolted, which was followed 
by a war with Greece. Battle of Marathon, B. c. 490. (See 
sect. 578.) 

Xerxes, 485-464. — Subdued the Egyptian revolt and made 
an expedition against Greece. Battles of Thermopylae and 
Salamis, B. c. 480. Battles of Plataea and Mycale, B. c. 479. 
(See sect. 582.) 

Artaxerxes Longimanus and his Successors, 464-330. — For a 
summary of this period, down to the overthrow of the empire 
by Alexander the Great, see sect. 583. 

52. Religion. — The ancient religion of the Persians was the 
Magian, or worship of fire, and included, according to the 
Zendavesta, two conflicting principles— Ormuzd, god of light, 
and Ahriman, god of darkness. Zoroaster, who flourished, 
according to Prideaux and Hyde, during the reign of Darius 
Hystaspis, was the great reformer of the Persian religion. 
The Magian doctrine still exists among the Ghebres in 
Persia and the Parsees in India. 



INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 25 



II. THE CRITICAL HISTORY OF THE OLD TES- 
TAMENT. 



ANALYSIS. 

The Bible. — Divisions of the Old Testament: I. The Pentateuch, or 
five Books of the Law; II. The twelve Historical Books; III. The 
five Poetical Books, or Holy Writings; IV. The seventeen Prophetical 
Books; The Apocrypha. — Original language of the Old Testament. — 
The Septuagint. — The Vulgate. — English translations. 



SUMMARY. 

53. The Bible — (it^loq, i. e. the Book — is comprised in the 
Old Testament, which contains thirty-nine books, and the 
New Testament, which contains twenty-seven books; in 
addition to these are the Apocryphal Writings, which 
are contained in fourteen books. 

54. Division of the Old Testament. — The thirty-nine books 
of the Old Testament are divided into four classes — viz. I. The 
Pentateuch, or five Books of the Law. II. The twelve His- 
torical Books. III. The five Poetical Books, or Holy 
Writings. IV. The seventeen Prophetical Books — viz. 
1. The five Books, including Lamentations, by the four Great- 
er Prophets and 2. The twelve Books of the twelve Minor 
Prophets. 

5o. I. The Pentateuch, or Five Books of the Law, from Ilevre, 
five, and revxog, a volume. It comprises Genesis, Exodus, 
Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, and was all writ- 
ten by Moses, excepting perhaps the last chapter of Deuter- 
onomy, which contains an account of the death of Moses, and 
was therefore probably written by Joshua or Samuel, or some 
other later prophet. 

The history of the Pentateuch extends from the creation to 
the death of Moses, b. c. 4004-1451, and includes a period of 
2453 years. It is divided into three sections — viz. 

1. History of the creation and deluge and the generations 
prior to Abraham. Gen. i.-xi. 

2. History of the Jews as a nomad family — their patriarch- 
al state, Egyptian slavery, and wanderings in the wilderness 
under Moses. Gen. xii.-l. ; Ex. i.-xix. ; Numbers. 



26 INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 

3. The Mosaic code of laws and ordinances. Ex. xx.-xl. ; 
Leviticus and Deuteronomy. 

56. II. The Twelve Historical Books — viz. Joshua, 
Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 
Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. The authors 
of these books are unknown. It seems certain that from the 
commencement of the theocracy scribes were employed to 
write the records of their times ; which records were subse- 
quently deposited in the tabernacle or temple. It is there- 
fore conjectured that the historical books, to the end of 
Kings, were compiled from these original records by Jere- 
miah, shortly before the Captivity, and that the remaining 
five books, from 1 Chronicles to Esther, were compiled by 
Ezra. The history of these twelve books extends from the 
death of Moses to the end of Nehemiah's history, b. c. 1451 
to about B. c. 434 — a period of 1017 years. It is divided into 
five sections : 

I. History of the conquest of Canaan under Joshua. 
Joshua. 

II. History of the Jews under a federative republic. 
Judges; 1 Sam. i.-viii.; including the episode of Ruth. 

III. History of the Jews under a single monarchy — viz. 
of Saul, David, and Solomon. 1 Sam. ix. to end ; 2 Sam. ; 
1 Kings i.-xii. ; 1 Chron. ; 2 Chron. i.-ix. 

IV. History of the Jews under the divided monarchy of 
Judah and Israel. 1 Kings xii. to end ; 2 Kings ; 2 Chron. 
x. to end. 

V. History of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity to 
the end of Nehemiah's history. Ezra; Nehemiah; with 
portions of Jeremiah, Daniel, etc., and including the episode 
of Esther. 

During the period of the Pentateuch and historical books, 
the whole of the five poetical books must have been com- 
posed, and all the prophecies in the seventeen prophetical 
books delivered. 

57. III. The Five Poetical Books, or Holy Writings — Hagio- 
grapha, from ayiuc, holy, and ypactrj, a writing. They comprise 
Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Solomon's Song. 
They are called poetical books because they are almost whol- 
ly written in Hebrew metre. Job is supposed to have been 
written by Moses; the Psalms by ten persons — viz. Moses, 
David, Solomon, Asaph, Heman, Ethan, Jeduthun, and the 
three sons of Korah ; the Proverbs chiefly by Solomon, 
though in the thirtieth and thirty-first chapters the proverbs 
of Agur and Lemuel are inserted. Ecclesiastes and Solo- 
mon's Song are undoubtedly by Solomon. 

58. IV. The Seventeen Prophetical Books. These writ- 
ings are divided into two kinds — viz. 



INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 27 

I. The Five Prophetical Books (including Lamentations) of 
the four Greater Prophets — viz. Isaiah, Jeremiah, 
(Prophecies and Lamentations), Ezekiel, and Daniel. 

II. The Twelve Prophetical Books of the Twelve Minor 
Prophets — viz. Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Mi- 
cah, Nahum, Habakktjk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zecha- 

RIAH, MaLACHI. 

59. The Fourteen Apocryphal Books — (nroKpl'TrTo, i. e. to 
hide — which comprise 1 and 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, 
Rest of Esther, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiastictts, 
Baruch, Song of the Three Children, Bel and the 
Dragon, Prayer of Manasses, and 1 and 2 Maccabees. 
The history of these books will be found in the Connection, 
sect. 103, et seq. They are of doubtful origin, and conse- 
quently not included in our canon of Scripture, though the 
Roman Catholic Church, by the authority of the Council of 
Trent, admits them as canonical. (See "Apocryphal Books," 
Con., sects. 103-117.) 

60. Original Language of the Old Testament. — The Old 
Testament is written in Hebrew, excepting some chapters of 
Ezra and Daniel, which are in Chaldee, the Jews having be- 
come more familiar with the Chaldee than the Hebrew during 
the Babylonian captivity. There are, however, two editions 
of the Pentateuch — viz. the Samaritan and the Hebrew. 
The Samaritan is written in the ancient Hebrew character, 
and has been preserved by the Samaritans distinct from the 
other ever since the Babylonian captivity, " for the Jews had 
no dealings with the Samaritans." The comparison of the 
two has been found useful in correcting the errors of tran- 
scribers. 

61. The Septuagint. — This ancient Greek version was orig- 
inally made for the use of the Egyptian Jews, and called 
Septuagint — septuaginta, i. e. seventy — because, according to the 
tradition of one Aristeas, which is now generally rejected, it 
was supposed to have been made in seventy-two da\s, by 
seventy elders, or learned Jews, who had been sent by the 
Jewish high priest Eleazar to Alexandria at the request of 
Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt. It is also called the 
Alexandrian version, from having been executed at Alexan- 
dria. Some say that the seventy elders were shut up in the 
isle of Pharos, and completed their task in seventy-two days, 
while Demetrius Phalerus, the king's chief librarian, tran- 
scribed it from their dictation. Others say. that the seventy, 
being shut up in separate cells, wrote each a separate trans- 
lation, and all were afterward found to exactly coincide in 
words and sentiment. 

This version was most probably made during the joint 
reigns of Ptolemy Lagus and his son Ptolemy Philadelphus, 



28 INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 

about B. c. 285 or 286 (see Con., sect. 12), and the introduc- 
tion of Coptic or pure Egyptian words and the rendering of 
Hebrew words in the Egyptian manner clearly prove that 
the translators were natives of Egypt; whilst the difference 
of style and ability shows that this version was the work 
not of one, but of several individuals. 

The Septuagint gradually acquired the highest authority 
amongst the Jews of Palestine, and subsequently amongst 
the Christians, and all the quotations in the New Testament 
from the Old are taken from it. It was, however, abandoned 
by the Jewish synagogue about the first century after Christ. 
It is still employed by the Greek and other Christian churches. 

62. The Vulgate. — This was an ancient Latin version of the 
Septuagint and Greek New Testament, made in the early part 
of the second century, and called the Vetus Itala, or Old 
Italic, but its author is unknown. In the fourth century, 
Jerome commenced revising this old Italic translation, but 
before it was completed he undertook and finished a new 
Latin version of the Bible, which gradually acquired so great 
an authority in Western Europe that it has been exclusively 
adopted by the Romish Church ever since the seventh cen- 
tury. Some parts only of Jerome's revision of the Old Italia 
version have been preserved, but his Latin translation, under 
the name of Latin Vulgate, was at length pronounced to be 
authentic by the Council of Trent in the sixteenth century, 
and ordered to be exclusively used in the service of the Romish 
Ciiurch. Several revisions of the Latin Vulgate have been 
since undertaken by learned men, which were rendered ne- 
cessary from the errors of copyists and the occasional inter- 
mixture of the Old Italic version with Jerome's Latin Vulgaie. 
Of these revisions, the most celebrated is that by Pope Sixtus 
V., which was published at Rome in 1590, but suppressed 
by Clement VIII., whose authentic edition appeared in 
1592. 

63. English Translations. — No complete version of all the 
Scriptures appears to have been made in Saxon, though Bede 
translated certain parts, and other Saxon versions still exist 
of the most important portions. 

The First English translation known to be extant was made 
by an unknown indivividual about 1290; of this there are 
but two manuscript copies preserved — one in the Bodleian 
Library, and the other in Christ Church College Library, 
Oxford. 

John de Trevisa, about a century after, is said by Caxton to 
have translated the whole Bible into English ; but this is un- 
certain. 

John Wickliffe, about the same time — viz. 1380 — either trans- 
lated the whole Bible from the Latin Vulgate, or collected 



INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 29 

previous translations which completed an English Bible. His 
version of the New Testament has been often published. 

William Tyndale, in 1526, printed his English version of the 
New Testament. Two years after, he also printed a trans- 
lation of the Pentateuch. He was martyred at Antwerp in 
1536. 

Miles Cover dale, in 1535, printed at Zurich the first complete 
English translation of the Bible, composed of Tyndale's versions, 
as far as they went, and his own. 

John Rogers, in 1537, having previously assisted Tyndale, 
now edited a Bible (probably at Hamburg) under the as- 
sumed name of Thomas Matthews ; his Bible is therefore 
generally called Matthews' Bible. This translation was re- 
vised by Cranmer and Cover dale, and printed in London, 
1539, in large folio, and from this was called the Great 
Bible. 

The Geneva Bible was published between 1557 and 1560, at 
Geneva, being a new version by Coverdale, Knox, Goodman, 
and others, with short annotations. The New Testament in 
this Bible was the first one divided into verses. 

The Bishops' Bible was published in 1568, with two prefaces 
by Archbishop Parker, who employed several critics to make 
the translation, amongst whom were eight bishops; hence it 
was called the Bishops' Bible. This Bible was read in churches, 
but the Geneva was preferred in families. 

The present Authorized English Version was pub- 
lished in 1611. At the Hampton Court Conference, in 1603, 
several objections were made to the Bishops' Bible, and, in 
1604, James I. issued a commission to fifty-four of the most 
eminent divines of both universities to undertake a new ver- 
sion. This was not commenced until 1607, when seven of 
the divines had died and only forty-seven were living. The 
forty-seven survivors were now divided into six committees — 
two at Oxford, two at Cambridge, and two at Westminster — 
and each had a certain portion assigned it. In 1610 the 
great work was completed, and then revised by a committee 
of six of the translators, and finally reviewed by Bishop 
Bilson and Dr. Smith; the latter prefixed the Arguments 
and wrote the Preface. The whole was printed and pub- 
lished in 1611. 

64. Division into Chapters and Verses. — The invention of 
chapters has been ascribed to both Archbishop Lanfranc and 
Stephen Langton, but the real author was Cardinal Hugo de 
Sancto Caro, who, having projected a concordance to the 
Latin Vulgate, about the middle of the thirteenth century, 
divided both the Old and New Testaments into chapters, the 
same as we now have. These chapters he subdivided into 
smaller portions, which he distinguished by the letters A, B, 
3 * 






30 INTRODUCTORY OUTLINE. 

C, D, etc. In the fifteenth century Eabbi Mordecai Nathan 
made a Hebrew concordance on the same plan, and adopted 
the cardinal's divisions. The introduction of verses into the 
'printed editions of the Hebrew Bible was made by Athias, 
an Amsterdam Jew, in 1661, and into the Greek by Robert 
Stephens in 1551. The first English New Testament with 
verses appeared at Geneva in 1557, and the first English 
Bible so printed was also executed at Geneva, in 1560. The 
Bishops' Bible, and subsequently the Authorized Version, were 
also divided into chapters and verses. 



JEWISH MONTHS. 



The Jews had two principal kinds of years, the Ecclesias- 
tical and the Civil. 

I. The Ecclesiastical or Sacred Year began on the first day 
of the month Nisan, corresponding to about the middle of 
March, this being the time when the Jews departed out of 
Egypt. (See sect. 97.) From this month Nisan, or Abib, the 
Jews computed their feasts, and the prophets also occasion- 
ally dated their oracles and visions. 

II. The Civil Year began on the first day of the month 
Tisri, from a traditionary supposition that this was the date 
of the creation of the world. By this year the Jews com- 
puted their jubilees and dated their contracts, the births of 
their children, and the reigns of their kings. 

Months of the Ecclesiastical and Civil years compared 
with our months. 





Ecclesiastical Year. 




Civil Year. 


1. 


Nisan or Abib, 


7. part of March and April. 


2. 


Jyar or Zif, 


8. 


' April and May. 


8. 


Si van, 


9. 


' May and June. 


9. 


Kisleu or Chisleu, 


10. 


' June and July. 


10. 


Thebet, 


11. 


' July and August. 


11. 


Sebat, 


12. 


' . August and September. 


12. 


Adar, 


1. 


' September and October. 


4. 


Thammuz, 


2. 


' October and November. 


5. 


Ab, 


3. 


' November and December 


6. 


Elul, 


4. 


" December and January. 


7. 


Tizri, 


5. 


" January and February. 


8. 


Marchesvan, 


6. 


1 February and March. 



As the Jewish years were lunar years, and therefore con- 
sisted of only 354 days and 8 hours, they were accommodated 
to solar years by the addition of a month at the end of the 
Ecclesiastical year, and this intercalary month, which came 
after the month Adar, was called Ke-Adar, or the Second 
Adar. 

31 



CHRONOLOGY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS 
RECORDED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. 



1st Period. 

Patriarchal Stale. — From the Creation to 
the Death of Joseph. 

B.C. 4004-1635— about 2369 years. 

B. c. 

The creation 4U04 

Enoch's translation 3017 

Noah born 2948 

Building of the ark commenced.. 2469 

The deluge 2349-2348 

Confusion of tongues about 2234 

Noah's death (aged 950) 1998 

Ahrain born 1996 

Call of Abram 1921 

Ishmael born 1910 

Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed.. 1898 

Isaac born 1897 

offered by Abraham 1872 

marries Rebekah 1857 

Esau and Jacob born 1837 

Abraham died (aged 175) 1822 

Ishmael died 1773 

Jacob goes to Padan-aram 1760 

marries Leah and Rachel.... 1753 

Joseph born 1745 

Jacob leaves La ban 1739 

Joseph sold to Potipbar 1729 

Isaac died (aged 180) 1716 

Joseph interprets Pharaoh's two 

dreams 1715 

Seven years' plenty 1715-1708 

Seven years' famine 1708-1701 

First visit of Joseph's brethren.. 1707 
Second visit " " .. 1706 

Israelites migrate to Egypt 1706 

Jacob died (age 147) 16S9 

Joseph died (aged 110) 1035 

2d Period. 

Nomad Slate.— From the Death of Joseph 

to the Death of Moses. 

B.C. 1635-1451— about 184 years. 

Birth of Moses 1571 

Fliea to Midiao 1581 

'I be exodus 1 191 

Tabernacle completed 1490 



Rebellion of Korah 1471 

Moses and Aaron sin 1453 

Aaron died 1452 

Moses died (aged 120) 1451 

3d Period. 

A Federative Republic— From the Death 
of Moses to the Anointing of Saul. 

B.C. 1451-1091. 

Passage of the Jordan 1451 

Canaan divided among the twelve 

tribes 1444 

Joshua died 1426 

Judges 1402-1095 

For the chronology of this very ob- 

scare period, see p. 1US. 

Ruth about 1322-1312 

4th Period. 

The Single Monarchy. 
B.C. 1095-975. 

1. Saul king 1095 

David anointed 1063 

Slays Goliath 1063 

Saul committed suicide (reign- 
ed forty years) 1056 

2. David king 1056 

Reigned at Hebron 1056-1048 

over all Israel.... 1048-1015 

3. Solomon king 1015 

Building of the temple 1012-1005 

Dedication 1005 

Rehoboaui king 975 

5th Period. 

Tlie Divided Monarchies of Judith and Is- 
rael, and seventy years' Captivity. 

B.C. 975-530. 

Revolt of the ten tribes 975 

Kingdom of Israel 975-721 

Kingdom of Judah 975-588 

Jonah prophesied about 840 

Amos and liosea 800 



34 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 



Isaiah 758-698 

Joel about 800 

Micah 758-699 

Israel carried into captivity by Shal- 

mane.ier 721 

Nahum 720 

Zephauiah 640 

Jeremiah 628-586 

Habakkuk 612 

Nebuchadnezzar took Jerusalem in 
the reign of Jehoiakim, from 
irhich dale— viz. B. c. 6u6, to 
the edict of Cyrus, B. c. 536 — is 
calculated the seventy years' 
captivity. 
The seventy years' captivity. ..606-536 
Jerusalem and thk Temple 
taken and burnt, and ju- 
dah carried away captive 588 

Daniel prophesied 606-534 

Ezekiel prophesied 595-536 

Obadiah prophesied 588-583 

See also tables at p. 166, and p. 266. 

6th Period. 

From the Edict of Cyrus, b. c. 536, to the 
1'aking of Jerusalem by Titus, a. d. 70. 
Edict of Cyrus and return of the 

Jews 536 

Second temple begun 535 



E. c. 

Second temple finished 515 

Governorship of Ezra 458-445 

Nehemiah's first administra- 
tion 445-433 

Nehemiah's second adminis- 
tration 428-420 

Close of Old Testament history 420 

Alexander the Great at Jerusa- 
lem 332 

His deatli 323 

Palestine under the Ptole- 
mies. 300-202 

Septuagiut made about 280 

Palestine under the Seleu- 

cidaj 202-166 

Antiochus Epiphanes profaned 

the temple 170 

Revolt of Mattathias 167 

Palestine under the Maccabees 166-37 

Judas Maccabseus 166-161 

Feast of dedication instituted 165 

Apocryphal history ends 135 

Samaritan temple on Mount Geri- 
zim destroyed by John Hyr- 

canus 129 

Judaea subjected to Pompey 63 

Crassus plundered the temple 54 

Caesar assassinated 44 

Herod king 37-3 

Rebuilds the temple 19 

Jesus Christ born 4 



THE PENTATEUCH. 



[HENTE, "FIVE," AND TEYX02, "A VOLUME," THE FIVE BOOKS 
OF THE LAW— VIZ. GENESIS, EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, 
AND DEUTERONOMY; ALL WRITTEN BY MOSES.— See Intro- 
duction.] 



GENESIS. 

(Tivecic, "generation" — the generation of all things.) 

PATRIARCHAL HISTORY FROM THE BIRTH OF ADAM TTLL THE DEATH OF 
JOSEPH. B. C. 4004 TO 1635.— ABOUT 2369 YEARS. 



ANALYSIS. 

I. History of the World prior to Abraham. 

Antediluvian Period, 4004-2348. — The creation, 
b. c. 4004. - Plurality of Persons in the Godhead. — God blesses 
man. — The garden of Eden. — The fall. — Promise of a Redeemer. — 
Murder of Abel. — Posterity of Adam through Cain. — Posterity of 
Adam through Seth — Building of the ark, 2469-2349.— The del- 
uge, 2349-2348. 

Settlement after the Flood, 2348-199 6.— Noah's 
prophecies concerning his sons; dies, 1998. — Posterity of Noah, 
fulfilment of his prophecies, etc. — Building of Babel, 2234. — 
Generations from Noah to Abram. — Ilaran, Nahor, and Abram. 

page 3G 
II. Lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. 

Abram, 1990-1822, lived 175 years.— Early life and 
call of Abram, b. c. 1996-1921. — Journeys through Canaan to Egypt, 
1921. — Returns to Canaan and encamps at Mamre, whilst Lot dwells 
at Sodom, 1918. — Inhabitants of Canaan. — Abram rescues Lot from 
captivity, 1913. — Character of Melchizedek. — God promises Abram 
a son ; Ishmael born, 1910. — God renews his covenant with Abram, 
1898. — Institutes circumcision and changes Abram and Sarai's 
names, 1898. — Abraham visited by three angels; intercedes for 
Sodom. — Destruction of Sodom and origin of Moab and Amnion. 
— Abraham removes to Gerar. 

.35 



36 GENESIS. b. c. 4004. 

Isaac, 1897-1710, lived ISO years,— Isaac born — 
1897. — Hagar and Ishmael exiled, 1892. — Digging of Beersheba, 
1891. — Abraham tempted to offer Isaac, 1872. — Isaac a type of 
Christ. — Death of Sarah, 1860. — Isaac marries Eebekah, 1857. 
— Abraham marries Keturah, 1853. 

Jacob, 1837-1089, lived 147 years. — Jacob and Esau 
Lorn to Isaac, 1837. — Abraham dies, 1822. — Esau sells his birth- 
right, 1805. — Famine in Canaan; Isaac leaves Mamre for Gerar 
and deceives Abimelech, 1804. — Esau marries two Hittite women, 
1796. — Ishmael dies, 1773. — Isaac blesses Jacob instead of Esau, 
1760. — Jacob goes to Laban at Ha ran ; his dream. — Esau marries 
Mahalath. — Jacob marries Leah and Rachel, 1753. — His family. — 
Makes a new covenant with Laban, 1745. — Leaves Laban, 1739. — 
His vision at Mahanaim and message to Esau. — Wrestles with a 
man at Peniel. — Meeting with Esau. — Resides at Succoth and 
Shechem ; slaughter of the Shechemites, 1739-1732. — Buries the 
idols of his household and goes to Bethel. — Death of Rachel ; 
birth of Benjamin, 1732.— Reuben's incest with Bilhah. — Jacob 

RESIDES WITH ISAAC AT MAMRE, 1729. 

Joseph, 174:5-1035, lived 110 years. — Joseph ex- 
cites his brethren's envy, and sold to the Ishmaelites, 1729. — Ju- 
dah marries a Canaanite ; his incest with his daughter-in-law. — 
Joseph sold to Potiphar and imprisoned, 1729-1715. — [Isaac died, 
1716.] — Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's butler and baker, 
1720-1718.— Interprets Pharaoh's two dreams, 1715.— Made chief 
ruler of Egypt, and marries Asenath. — Seven years' plenty, 1715- 
1708; birth of Manasseh, 1712; of Ephraim, 1711. — Seven years' 
famine, 1708-1701 ; first visit of Joseph's brethren, 1707 ; second 
visit of Joseph's brethren, 1706. — Israelites migrate to Egypt, 1706. 
— Policy of Joseph during the famine, 1702, 1701. — Dying acts and 
prophecies of Jacob, 1689. — Fulfilment of Jacob's prophecies. — Ja- 
cob's death AND BURIAL, 1689. — Joseph again forgives his breth- 
ren. — Death of Joseph, 1635. — Joseph a type of Christ. — Scrip- 
tural meaning of a type. — Typical intimations of the Messiah in 
Genesis. — Prophetical intimations and their fulfilment. — Names, 
and meanings of the names, of the principal persons mentioned 
in Genesis page 44. 



SUMMAKY. 

I. History of the World prior to Abraham. 

Antediluvian 1; »« Creation, B. C. 4004.— In the 

history, b.c. beginning* God created the heavens and the 

4004-2348. ^ 

* At present there are some apparent discrepancies between geology 
and astronomy and the sacred writings; but the Bible was not intended 
to instruct mankind in the sciences, and therefore only alludes to things 



b. c. 4004. GENESIS I., II. 37 

1st day — Light, and the separation of day from night. 

2d day — Firmament or Air, and separation of the 
ocean from the clouds. 

3d day — Dry land, herbs, and trees, and separa- 
tion of the earth from the sea. 

4th day — Sun, moon, and stars. 

5th day — Fishes and birds. 

6th day — Animals and man. 

7th day — God rested, and sanctified his work. Gen. 
i. ; ii. 1-3. 

2. Plurality of Persons in the Godhead, — Before 
God created man he said, " Let us make man in our im- 
age, after our likeness ; and let them have dominion over 
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over 
the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creep- 
ing thing that creepeth upon the earth." These expres- 
sions us and our distinctly imply a plurality of Persons 
in the Godhead. 

3. God blesses Man, — After God had created man, 
male and female, he blessed them, saying, " Be fruitful, 
and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it : 
and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the 
fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth 
upon the earth." Gen. i. 26-28. 

4. The Garden of Eden. — God, having created Adam, 
placed him in the garden of Eden to cultivate the trees 
and subsist upon the fruit, but under an express com- 
mand to refrain from the tree of knowledge of good and 
evil. The Almighty then brought him all the beasts and 
birds to be named, and made a woman from one of his 
ribs, and gave her to him for a Avife.* Adam called his 

as they appear to the uninstructed mind, and not as they are in reality, 
leaving the physical creation for the delightful exercise of our faculties. 
Geology, however, substantially agrees with the biblical accounts. It 
proves the successive creation of plants and animals, ending with man; 
it shows that every part of the earth is marked by the effects of a deluge 
occurring at one time or at many times ; and it points to a beginning, 
when neither plants nor animals nor man existed. But both the Scrip- 
tures and geology are silent as to the period when the fiat of our Crea- 
tor first called our earth and the planetary systems into being. Conf. 
Silliman's Introduction to Geolotjy ; Pyc Smith's Reconciliation of Ge- 
ology and Scripture, etc. 

* Thus were instituted the two ordinances of the Sabbath and of 
marriage; the first is a type of that rest which rcmaineth to the peo- 

4 



38 GENESIS II., III. b.c. 4004. 

wife Eve, " the mother of all living." Eden was watered 
by four rivers — viz. the Hiddekel, Euphrates, Pison,* and 
Araxes. Gen. ii. 

5. TJie Fall. — After this the serpent tempted Eve to 
eat of the forbidden fruit, and she prevailed on her hus- 
band to share her sin. The sentence of God was then 
pronounced upon the criminals. To Adam he said, 
" Cursed is the ground for thy sake, in sorrow shalt thou 
eat of it all the days of thy life. Thorns also and this- 
tles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat of the 
herb of the field. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat 
bread till thou return unto the ground : for out of it wast 
thou taken ; for dust thou art, and unto dust • shalt thou 
return." To Eve he said, " In sorrow shalt thou bring 
forth children : and thy desire shall be to thy husband, 
and he shall rule over thee." The tree of life was then 
guarded by flaming cherubim, lest the man should eat of 
it and live for ever, and Adam and Eve were clothed by 
the Almighty with coats of skins and expelled from Par- 
adise. Gen. iii. 

6. Promise of a ^Redeemer, — When the Almighty 
denounced our first parents, he intimated the future re- 
demption of mankind. To the serpent he said, " Thou 
art cursed above all cattle : upon thy belly shalt thou go, 
and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life. And I 
will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between 
thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou 
shalt bruise his heel." By the " seed of the woman " is 
meant Jesus Christ, and by " bruising the serpent's head " 
is meant that Christ would destroy the works of the 

pie of God, and the latter of the mystic union between Christ and his 
Church. 

* The attempts to discover the site of the garden of Eden have been 
hitherto numerous and contradictory, and in many cases so ridiculous 
as to make all modern researches appear vain and useless. The Tigris 
and Euphrates have now been turned from their course, and their 
ancient channels are unknown, as is proved from local traditions and 
Arabian geographers. Of the two most probable conjectures, one fixes 
the terrestrial Paradise in Armenia, between the sources of the Eu- 
phrates, Tigris, Phasis, and Araxes, and the other identifies the land 
of Eden with the country between Baghdad and Bassorah, which com- 
prehended ancient Babylonia; and they only contend that the garden 
stood in some part of this territory, where an ancient junction, and 
subsequent separation, of the Euphrates and Tigris took place. For a 
further inquiry, see Kitto's Chapter on the Site of Paradise. 



b. c. 4004. GENESIS IV. 39 

devil. " When the fulness of time was come, God sent 
forth his Son, made of a woman." Gal. iv. 4. " The God 
of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." 
Rom. xvi. 20. 

7. Murder of Abel, — Two sons were now born to 
Adam and Eve ; Cain, the elder, became a tiller of the 
ground, whilst Abel, the younger, was a keeper of sheep. 
After a time the two brothers offered sacrifices to God, 
Cain bringing a portion of the fruit of the earth, and 
Abel the firstlings of his flocks. The offering of Abel 
was alone accepted by Jehovah, but he fell a victim to 
the envy of Cain ; and the agonized parents, who had 
brought sin into the world, now saw its terrible conse- 
quences in the fratricide by their first-born. Gen. iv. 1- 
15. "As by one man sin entered into the world, and 
death by sin." Rom. v. 12. 

8. Posterity of Adam through Cain. — There is no 
Mosaic account of the births or deaths of the posterity 
of Cain, and only the heads of families appear to be men- 
tioned. 

1. Cain begat Enoch, and built a city after his name. 

2. Enoch begat Irad. 

3. Irad begat Mehujael. 

4. Mehujael begat Methusael. 

5. Methusael begat Lamech. 

6. Lamech married two wives : 

1st. Adah, mother of — 1. Jabal, the father of dwellers in 
tents and cattle-grazers ; 2. Jubal, the father of instru- 
mental musicians. 

2d. Zillah, mother of — 1. Tubal- Cain, who instructed 
artificers in brass and iron ; 2. Naamah, a daughter. Gen. 
iv. 16-23. 

9. Posterity of Adam through Seth. — There were 
ten generations from Adam to Noah inclusive — viz. 

1. Adam, 4004-3074. Lived 930 years; begat Seth 
in his 130th year, from whom Christ was descended. 

1 2. Seth, 3874-2962. Lived 912 years; begat Enos in 
his 105th year. 

3. Enos, 3769-2864. Lived 905 years ; begat Cainan 
in his 90th year. 

4. Cainan, 3679-2769. Lived 910 years ; begat Ma- 
halaleel in his 70th year. 



40 GENESIS V. b. c. 4004-2349. 

5. Mahalaleel, 3609-2714. Lived 895 years ; begat 
Jared in his 65th year. 

6. Jared, 3544-2582. Lived 962 years ; begat Enoch 
in his 16 2d year. 

7. Enoch, 3382-3017. Lived 365 years ; begat Me- 
thuselah in his 65th year. " Walked with God, and he 
was not, for God took him." Gen. v. 24. "By faith 
Enoch was translated that he should not see death ; . . . 
for before his translation he had this testimony, that he 
pleased God." Heb. xi. 5. Enoch also prophesied God's 
judgments on sinners, saying, " Behold, the Lord cometh 
with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon 
all." Jude 14, 15. 

8. Methuselah, 3317-2348. Lived 969 years ; begat 
Lamech in his 187th year. The oldest of all men ; he 
was contemporary with Adam for 243 years, and with 
Noah for 600 years. 

9. Lamech, 3130-2353. Lived 777 years; begat 
Noah in his 18 2d year. He predicted the blessing. 
Gen. v. 29. 

10. Noah, 2948-1998. Lived 950 years. In his 500th 
year he had begotten three sons — Shem, Ham, and Ja- 
pheth. Gen. v. 3-32; ix. 28, 29. 

10. Building of the Avlt, 2469-2349. — The earth 
was now corrupt and filled with violence ; the sons of 
God married the daughters of men,* and the Almighty 
threatened to destroy mankind by a deluge. But Noah 
was a just man and "a preacher of righteousness" (2 
Pet. ii. 5), and, having thus found grace in the eyes of 
Jehovah, he was desired to build an ark for the deliver- 
ance of himself and his family. " By faith Noah, being 
warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, 
prepared an ark to the saving of his house." Heb. xi. 7. 
" The long-suffering of God waited while the ark was pre- 
paring." 1 Pet. iii. 20. Ample directions were given by 
the Almighty for this undertaking. The ark was to be 
made of gopher-wood, and to be 300 cubits [547 feet] 
long, 50 cubits [91 feet] wide, and 30 cubits [54^- feet] 
high, and to have three stories. Noah was engaged upon 

* By the sons of God were probably meant the descendants of Seth, 
who practised the worship of Jehovah. These seem to have intermar- 
ried with the rest of mankind, or the descendants of Cain. 



b. c. 2349-1998. GENESIS VI.-IX. 41 

it for one hundred and twenty years, during which he con- 
tinued to preach repentance, but in vain. In his six hun- 
dredth year [b. c. 2349] the ark was completed, and he en- 
tered it, with his wife and his three sons and their wives, 
together with one pair of every species of unclean animals 
and seven of each clean species. This ark was a type of 
our salvation by Jesus Christ. Gen. vi. 

11. The Deluge, 2349, 2348.— On the seventh day 
after entering the ark the flood began, and the rain fell for 
forty days and forty nights. The waters prevailed for one 
hundred and fifty days, and covered the highest hills ; 
every land-animal was destroyed ; but at length the moun- 
tain-tops were seen, and the ark rested on Ararat in Ar- 
menia, between the Black Sea and the Caspian. After 
successively sending forth a raven and a dove, Noah at 
length left the ark, having remained in it for one year 
and seventeen days. The lonely family then sacrificed 
to Jehovah, and God blessed Noah and his sons, and 
promised that for the future neither the order of the sea- 
sons nor of day and night should cease ; but he forbade 
them to eat flesh with the blood in it, or to shed the blood 
of their fellow-man : " Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by 
man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God 
made be man." Finally, the Almighty set his rainbow 
in the clouds in token of this everlasting covenant. Gen. 
vii. ; viii. ; ix. 1-17. Before the deluge the earth was 
probably watered by mist, and not by rain. Gen. ii. 
5, 6. 

12. Noah prophesies concerning his settlement af- 
Sons ; dies, 1U9S. — Noah now became a ter the Flood, 
husbandman and planted a vineyard, but, B - c ' 2348_19% - 
having drank too freely of the wine, his son Ham, the 
father of Canaan, discovered him naked, but Shorn and 
Japheth covered him with a mantle. Noah, on awaking, 
discovered what had been done, and said of Canaan, the 
son of Ham, " Cursed be Canaan ; a servant of servants 
shall he be to his brethren ;" of Shem, " Blessed be the 
Lord God of Shem ; and Canaan shall be his servant ;" 
and of Japheth, " God shall enlarge Japheth, and he 
shall dwell in the tents of Shem ; and Canaan shall be 
his servant." Noah lived three hundred and fifty years 
after the deluge, and died B. c. 1098. Gen. ix. 18-29. 

4* 



42 GENESIS IX. b. c. 1998. 

13. Posterity of Noah, and fulfilment of his 
Prophecies. — The three sons of Noah are supposed to 
have been the progenitors of the following races, in whom 
the patriarch's prophecies appear to have been fulfilled. 

14. 1st. Japheth, whose posterity appear to have ex- 
tended to Northern Asia and Asia Minor, and from thence 
to have been ultimately impelled into Europe. He had 
seven sons — viz. 

1. Gomee, father of the Cimbri or Cimmerians. 

2. Magog, " " Scythians or Tartars. 

3. Madai, " " Medes. 

4. Javan, " " Greeks. 

5. Tubal, " " Tibarenians, on the coast of 

Pontus. 

6. Meshech, " Muscovites. 

7. Tieas, " " Thracians. 

The prophecy concerning Japheth was thus fulfilled in his pos- 
terity occupying vast territories, and in their subjugation of Asia 
and Africa, by which they dwelt in the tents of Shera, with the 
descendants of Canaan for their servants. 

15. 2d, Ham, whose children remained in chief pos- 
session of Mesopotamia ; formed settlements at the head 
of the Persian Gulf, in Arabia, and in Canaan; estab- 
lished the old empires in Assyria and Egypt; and, as 
their numbers multiplied, advanced into Ethiopia and 
other remote parts of the African peninsula. He had 
four sons, viz. 

1. Cush, father of the Cushites or Ethiopians, in Ara- 

bia and Africa. 

His son Nimrod built four very ancient cities, including Babel, 
and founded the ancient empire of Assyria. Asshnr, son of Shem, 
migrated from this country, and built Nineveh and three other 
cities. 

2. Mizeaim, father of the Egyptians — literally, the two 

Egypts. 

3. Phut, " " Libyans. 

4. Canaan, " " Canaanites, including Phoe- 

nicians. 

The prophecy concerning Ham has been fulfilled in the conquest 
of Palestine by the Hebrews, and the past and present degraded 
state of Africa. 



B. c. 2446-2056. GENESIS X., XI. 43 

16. 3d. Shem, whose descendants gradually spread 
over the east and north-east of the Tigris. He had 
five sons — viz. 

1. Elam, father of the Elamites or Elymseans. 

2. Asshue, " " Assyrians. 

3. Arphaxad, " Hebrews, Ishmaelites, and other 

Abrahamic nations. 

For the descent of Abraham from 
Arphaxad see sect. 18. 

4. Led, " " Lydians. 

5. Aram, " " Aramites in Syria and Mesopo- 

tamia. 

The prophecy concerning Shem was fulfilled in the Messiah 
being born of his posterity, and the worship of God being pre- 
served amongst them. Gen. x* 

17. Building of Babel. — After the death of Noah 
the whole earth was of one language, and all the fami- 
lies journeyed from Armenia in the east to a plain in 
the land of Shinar, near Chaldea or the Euphrates. 
Here they commenced building a city and tower, after- 
ward called "Babel" (/?a/3uAd»v) f — i. e. "confusion" — 
which they presumptuously intended should reach the 
heavens ; but God confounded their language, and the 
generation became scattered. Nimrod, the son of Cush, 
" a mighty hunter before the Lord," founded the king- 
dom of Babel in the fourth generation, or about one hun- 
dred and twenty years, after the deluge. Gen. xi. 1-9. 

18. Generations from Noah to Abram, 2446- 
20,56. — There were ten generations from Noah to Abram 
inclusive — viz. 

1. Shem, 2446-1846. Lived 600 years; begat Ar- 
phaxad in his 100th year. 



* There are many different opinions about the exact territories occu- 
pied and nations founded by the several branches of Noah's descend- 
ants. The account in the text appears the most probable. A careful 
and valuable critical review of the table of nations is to be found in 
H'avernick's Introduction to the Pentateuch. 

f The building of this city is one of the earliest recorded facts sub- 
sequent to the deluge. According to secular history it was founded by 
Bclus, and afterward enlarged by Ninus and Seiniraiuis, and was seated 
on both banks of the Euphrates. 



44 GENESIS XL b. c. 1996-1921. 

2. Arphaxad, 2346-1908. Lived 438 years; begat 
Salah in his 35th year. 

3. Salah, 2311-1878. Lived 433 years; begat Eber 
in his 30th year. 

4. Eber, 2281-1817. Lived 464 years ; begat Peleg 
in his 34th year. 

5. Peleg, 2247-2008. Lived 239 years; begat Reu 
in his 30th year. 

6. Reu, 2217-1978. Lived 239 years; begat Serug in 
his 32d year. 

7. Serug, 2185-1955. Lived 230 years; begat Nahor 
in his 30th year. 

8. Nahor, 2155-2007. Lived 148 years; begat Terah 
in his 29th year. 

9. Terah, 2126-1921. Lived 205 years. Lived 70 
years (b. c. 2056), and begat 

19. 10. Haran, Nahor, and Abram. — Though Ha- 
ran was born when Terah was seventy years old — viz. 
b. c. 2056 — Abram could not have been born before b. c. 
1996, or sixty years afterward. Haran died before Te- 
rah, leaving one son and two daughters — viz. 1. Lot ; 2. 
Milcah, who married her uncle Nahor ; and 3. Sarai or 
Iscah, who married her uncle Abram. Gen. xi. 10-27. 



II. Lives of Abram, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. 

Abram, b. c. 1996-1822; aged 175 years. 
Isaac, b. c. 1897-1716; aged 180 years. 
Jacob, B. c. 1837-1689; aged 148 years. 
Joseph, b. c. 1745-1635; aged 110 years. 



Patriarcha 
history 



20. Early Life and Call of Abram, 
1996-1921. — Abram, Nahor, and Haran 

mitm °' were k° rn t0 Teran > in ^ r of Chaldea,* and 

here Haran died. At Ur, God said to Abram, 

" Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and 

from thy father's house, into a land that I will show thee." 



* The original seat of the Chaldeans was prohably in the mountains 
of Armenia°and Kurdistan, whence they descended into the plains of 
Mesopotamia and Babylonia. Ur was a district in Northern Mesopo- 
tamia occupied by the Chaldees. It was also the name of a very an- 
cient city, subsequently called Edessa, which formed the capital of Os- 
roene. Haran lay farther south, on the road toward Palestine. 



B. c. 1921-1918. GENESIS XI.-XIII. 45 

Accordingly, Abram and his wife Sarai, his father Terah, 
and his nephew Lot, left Ur for Canaan, but stopped at 
Haran in Mesopotamia, where Terah died, b. c. 1921. 
Joshua appears to say that whilst at Ur both Abram 
and his father were idolaters : " Your fathers dwelt on 
the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the 
father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor ; and they 
served other gods." Josh. xxiv. 2 ; Gen. xi. 28-32 ; xii. 
1; Acts vii. 2, 3. 

21. Journeys through Canaan to Egypt, 1921. — 
After Terah's death, Abram, who was now 75 years old, 
departed, under divine direction, to Canaan, with Sarai 
and Lot, God having said, " In thee shall all families of 
the earth be blessed." Abram passed through Sichem* to 
the plain of Moreh,f where the Almighty said to him, 
" Unto thy seed will I give this land." Abram then en- 
camped upon a mountain between Bethel and Hai, and 
afterward journeyed southward, but was at length driven 
by a famine to Egypt, where he deceived Pharaoh by 
passing off his wife Sarai as his sister; but she was pre- 
served from the Egyptian king by divine interference. 
Gen. xii. 2-20. 

22. Returns to Canaan and Encamps at Manure, 
while Lot Dwells at Sodom, 19 18. — At Pharaoh's 
command, Abram and Lot left Egypt and returned to 
the mountain between Bethel and Hai with increased 
possessions and herds ; but, a dispute having arisen be- 
tween their several herdsmen, they agreed upon an amica- 
ble separation, Lot pitching his tent in the vale of Sid- 
dim, toward Sodom, while Abraham proceeded to the 
vale of Mamre in Hebron,J where he fixed his residence 
and built an altar to the Lord. Gen. xiii. 

23. Inhabitants of Canaan. — Some time prior to 
this period a division of the posterity of Canaan, young- 
est son of Ham, settled in this country, and named it 
after their father. They appear to have been divided 

* This was afterward included in Samaria. 

f The plain or valley of Moreh lies between the mountains of Ebal 
and (Jeriziiu, also in Samaria, and must not be confounded with Mount 
Moriah, on which the temple was built. 

J Mamre was about a mile from the town of Arba, afterward called 
Hebron, and lay in a central part of what was subsequently the tribe 
of Judah. 






46 GENESIS XIV. 



b.c. 1913. 



into ten families, or tribes ; the Kenites, Kenizzites, and 
Kadmonites inhabited the region east of the Jordan ; 
whilst the Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaims, Amorites, Ca- 
naanites,* Gergashites, and Jebusites occupied the terri- 
tory from the Jordan to the Mediterranean. They were 
separated into a number of small independent communi- 
ties, governed by petty kings, who, however, appear to 
have been regarded more as military commanders than 
as civil rulers. Gen. v. 19-21. (See also sect. 247-249.) 
24. Abram rescues Lot from Captivity, 1913. — 
About fourteen years prior to the present date, an Assyr- 
ian force crossed the Euphrates and subjected five petty 
kings, including those of Sodom and Gomorrah, who oc- 
cupied the vale of Siddim. This invading force was com- 
posed of four nations, who probably formed a part of the 
Assyrian power, which seems at this period to have pre- 
dominated in Western Asia ; and each of these nations 
was commanded by its own king — viz. Chedorlaomer, 
king of Elam, or Elymais ; Amraphel, king of Shinar, 
or Babylonia ; Arioch, king of Ellasar ; and Tidal, king 
of nations — i. e. of a mixed people or union of small 
tribes. Chedorlaomer was probably left viceroy of these 
conquests, for we are told that the five conquered kings 
in the vale of Siddim served him faithfully for twelve 
years, but rebelled in the thirteenth. In the fourteenth 
year Chedorlaomer and his confederates again invaded 
the country to punish the rebellion, and after reducing 
the races in the neighborhood, who had probably partici- 
pated in the revolt, they reached the vale of Siddim. 
The five kings came out to meet them, but were soon 
defeated, and their forces either driven into the slime-pits 
or compelled to flee to the mountains. Chedorlaomer 
then ravaged the towns, seized all the movable property 
and provisions and the women and children, and carried 
away Lot and his family among the captives. Abram 
was still sojourning in the vale of Mamre when the 
tidings were brought to him. Three Amorite brothers, 
Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner, joined him with their clans, 

* The whole of these tribes were of Canaanite origin, and the Ca- 
naanites here specially mentioned were probably only put for all their 
clans not intended to be particularly enumerated, such as the Phoeni- 
cian tribes. See Kitto. 



b. c. 1910. GENESIS XIV., XV. 47 

and he then armed his own three hundred and eighteen 
servants, and, dividing his small army into several bands, 
he fell upon the conquerors by night near Dan, and 
routed and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus, 
and recovered the plunder and prisoners. On his return 
he was met by Melchizedek, the king of Salem, and priest 
of the most high God, who brought bread and wine and 
blessed the conquering patriarch, who seems to have ac- 
knowledged him as priest of Jehovah, for " he gave him 
the tithe of all." The king of Sodom then offered to 
Abram the goods which he had recovered, in return for 
the captives whom he had delivered, but the present was 
generously declined. Gen. xiv. 

25. Character of Melchizedek, — The character and 
office of Melchizedek are involved in mystery. His birth, 
death, and parentage are alike unknown. (See Heb. vii. 
1-3.) St. Paul and David both allude to him as a type 
of Jesus Christ, who they say " is a priest for ever after 
the order of Melchizedek." Ps. ex. 4 ; Heb. v. 6 ; vi. 20 ; 
vii. 17, 21. 

26. God promises Abram a Son, and prophesies 
Four Hundred Years' Affliction to his Seed. — After 
Abram's return to Mamre, he was encouraged by God in 
a vision, and promised a son whose descendants should be 
numerous as the stars and inherit Canaan. Abram then ; 
by the divine command, offered a prescribed sacrifice, 
and, falling into a deep sleep, the Lord appeared to him 
in a vision and prophesied the four hundred years' Egyp- 
tian captivity of his descendants and their final posses- 
sion of the Promised Land : " Know of a surety that thy 
seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and 
shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred 
years." Gen. xv. 13. These four hundred years cannot 
be reconciled with chronology, which makes the Egyptian 
bondage extend to only two hundred and fifteen years; 
but, calculating the affliction to have commenced in Ca- 
naan at the birth of Isaac, it will make a period of four 
hundred and thirty years. 

27. Ishmael barn, 1010. — Sarai still continued 
childless, and in B.C. 1911, being ten years after Abram's 
first sojourn in Canaan, she persuaded her husband to 
take her Egyptian handmaid llagar as his concubine. 



48 GENESIS XV.-XVII. b. c. 1898. 

Hagar became pregnant and despised her mistress ; but, 
being hardly dealt with by Sarai, she fled to the wilder- 
ness of Shur, in Arabia Petrsea, where an angel encour- 
aged her by a well, and promised her a son who should 
be named Ishmael : " And he will be a wild man ; his 
hand will be against every man, and every man's hand 
will be against him." Hagar then returned, and gave 
birth to Ishmael in b. c. 1910, being the 86th year of 
Abram's age. Gen. xv. ; xvi. Ishmael and Hagar were 
again expelled after the birth of Isaac. (For a further 
account of him see sect. 34.) 

28. God renews his Covenant ivith Abram, 1898. — 
AVhen Abram was ninety-nine years old and Ishmael 
thirteen, the Lord renewed his promises to the father — 
viz. 

1st. That he should have a son by Sarai, notwithstand- 
ing their old age. 

2d. That in his seed all the nations of the earth should 
be blessed. 

3d. That his descendants should possess Canaan and 
be as numerous as the stars. 

The first promise was fulfilled in the birth of Isaac, the 
second in the birth of the Messiah, and the third literally 
in the rapid increase of the Israelites, Ishmaelites, and 
Edomites, and spiritually in the multitude of believers in 
all nations. Acts iii. 25 ; Rom. iv. 12-17. St. Paul says, 
" They which are of faith, the same are the children of 
Abraham." Gal. iii. 7. Hence Abraham has been called 
the " father of the faithful." (See sect. 42.) 

29. Institutes Circumcision, and changes Abram 9 s 
and Sarai 9 s Names. — Circumcision was then instituted 
by Jehovah, and Abraham circumcised all the males of 
his household, himself included, on the same day, he be- 
ing ninety-nine years old and Ishmael thirteen years. 
God also changed Abram's name to Abraham, which 
signifies " the father of a great multitude ;" and Sarai's 
name to Sarah, which signifies "princess." Gen. xvii. 

30. Abraham, visited by three Angels ; intercedes 
for Sodom, 1898. — The same year three strangers 
visited Abraham, and were hospitably entertained, when 
one of them, who was the angel Jehovah, again promised 
him a son by Sarah, and reproved his wife for laughing 



B. c. 1898-1892. GENESIS XVII.— XX. 49 

at the prediction. The angel also intimated to Abraham 
the forthcoming destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, 
but when the patriarch pleaded for the doomed city, he 
was assured that if fifty or even ten righteous men could 
be found there, it should be spared. Gen. xviii. 

31. Destruction of Sodom, and Origin of 3Ioab 
and Amnion, 1898. — Two angels were now sent to 
warn Lot and his family of the impending doom. They 
were suitably entertained by the nephew of Abraham, 
but only escaped from the inhabitants of Sodom by 
smiting them with blindness. The household were now 
aroused at the miracle. Lot and his wife and two un- 
married daughters left the city, but the husbands of his 
married daughters refused to move, and his wife, looking 
back, was turned to a pillar of salt. Sodom and Gomor- 
rah were then destroyed by fire and brimstone, and the 
plain in which they stood was overflowed by the Jordan, 
and now forms the Dead Sea. Lot and his two daughters 
escaped to Zoar, which was saved at his request. He 
and his daughters afterward dwelt in a neighboring cave, 
where Moab and Benammi, the progenitors of the Moab- 
ites and Ammonites, sprang from an incestuous connec- 
tion. Gen. xix. 

32. Abraham removes to Gerar, 1898. — Abraham 
now left Mamre and journeyed southward to Gerar, in 
the territory afterward occupied by the Philistines, where 
he deceived Abimelech by saying that Sarah w T as his sis- 
ter ; but she was preserved by divine interference, and 
Abimelech rebuked her husband, but made him large 
presents of cattle and servants, and one thousand pieces 
of silver, — i. e. shekel's weight, or £129 3s. 4c?.* — and per- 
mitted him to settle in the land. Gen. xx. 

33. Isaac bom, 1897* — Isaac was born Isaac, b.c. 
in the one hundredth year of his father's age, 1897 ~ 1716 - 
and circumcised on the eighth day. He was called Isaac 
— i. e. " laughter " — because his mother had laughed when 
the three angels had promised his birth. (See sect. 30.) 

34. Hagar and Ishmael exiled, 1892. — Sarah now 
returned the mocking of Hagar, and Abraham, though 

* Silver is reckoned here and throughout the book at 5*. per oz., and 
gold at £4 per oz. 



50 GENESIS XXI., XXII. b. c. 1891-1872. 

sanctioned by God, was reluctantly compelled to send 
away his concubine and child, who were afterward re- 
duced to the greatest distress in the wilderness of Beer- 
sheba ; but an angel appeared, and, God having opened 
her eyes, she saw a well. Ishmael then became a great 
archer in the wilderness of Paran, and afterward married 
an Egyptian wife and had twelve sons, who became the 
fathers of twelve Arabian tribes, which still exist. He 
also had a daughter, Mahalath, who subsequently mar- 
ried her cousin Esau. (See sect. 48.) He died, aged one 
hundred and thirty-seven, in the presence of all his breth- 
ren. Gen. xxi. 1-21 ; xxv. 18. 

35. Digging of Beersheba, 1891. — Abraham, who 
still resided at Gerar, now entered into a covenant with 
Abimelech and Phichol, his captain of the host, and dug 
the well of Beersheba. Gen. xxi. 22-34. 

36. Abraham, tempted to offer Isaac, 1872, — 
When Isaac was twenty-five years old, A braham was de- 
sired by God to offer him up as a burnt-offering on Mount 
Moriah. The faithful patriarch took his son and two 
servants, and arrived at the appointed place after a three 
days' journey. Abraham and Isaac ascended Moriah 
alone. The fire and wood were prepared, when Isaac 
said, " My father, behold the fire and the wood, but where 
is the lamb for a burnt-offering?" Abraham replied, 
" My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt- 
offering ;" and the father was about to offer the fearful 
sacrifice, when his hand was stayed by an angel, and a 
ram caught in the thicket was offered and accepted as a 
substitute for the son. Abraham then called the place 
" Jehovah-jireh " — " the Lord will provide " — and after 
receiving another special testimony of the approbation of 
God, he returned and dwelt at Beersheba.* Gen. xxii. 



* Isaac a Type of Christ. — Isaac was a type of Christ in the follow- 
ing ways : 1. In his miraculous birth from an aged mother, whilst Christ 
was born of a virgin. 2. In his being, like Jesus, obedient unto death. 
3. In his carrying the wood on which he was to be sacrificed to Mount 
Moriah, whilst Christ carried his cross to the same place. 4. In his 
meek obedience to his father's will. 5. In his father's willingness to 
sacrifice his only son, who was heir to a temporal Canaan, like to our 
Saviour, through whom we are heirs to a heavenly Canaan. Moreover, 
the lamb which Abraham had told his son that " God would provide" 
seems to point to the "Lamb of God ;" whilst the substituted ram re- 



B. c. 1860-1837. GENESIS XXIIL-XXV. 51 

37. Death of Sarah, I860. — Sarah, having attained 
the age of one hundred and twenty-seven years, died at 
Mamre, when Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah 
for four hundred shekels' weight of silver [about 182 oz., or 
£45 10s. 8c?.] from the sons of Heth as a burial-place for his 
wife, and it subsequently became the sepulchre of him- 
self and of Isaac, Kebekah, Jacob, Leah, and Joseph. 
Gen. xxiii. 

38. Isaac marries JRebeJcaJi, 1857. — Isaac was now 
forty years old, and Abraham sent Eliezer, who was the 
steward or eldest servant of his house, to Haran in Meso- 
potamia to seek a wife for Isaac in the family of Nahor. 
At a well in the outskirts of the city of Nahor, Eliezer 
prayed to Jehovah, in the name of the God of his master 
Abraham, that the damsel of whom he should ask a 
drink, and who should accede to his request, might be the 
woman appointed for Isaac's wife. Before he had done 
speaking he saw Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel and 
granddaughter of Nahor and Milcah, with whom events 
occurred as he had prayed. Accordingly, he gave Re- 
bekah a golden earring and two bracelets ; and after de- 
livering his errand to her brother Laban and her father 
Bethuel, he was permitted to escort her to the residence 
of Abraham, where she was married to Isaac. Gen. xxiv. 

39. Abraham, marries Keturah, 1853. — After this 
Abraham married Keturah, who bore him six sons,* 
amongst whom was Midian, the progenitor of the Mid- 
ianites. Gen. xxv. 1-3. 

40. Jacob and Esau bom to Isaac, Jacob, n. c. 
1837. — Isaac had been married twenty years 1837 - 1(i89 - 
without offspring; but, having entreated the Lord, his 
wife, Rebekah, brought forth twins — Esau, the elder, a 
hairy man, who became a hunter and was the favorite 
of his father, and Jacob, the younger, who became a 
shepherd and the darling of his mother. Gen. xxv. 19-28. 
Jacob obtained his name because at his birth he held his 
brother's heel, Jacob signifying " a heeler," or " one who 

eemblee those temple-saeriGces which were typical of Christ's atone- 
ment. 

• These sons Abraham, before his death, sent nway with gifts, and 
they subsequently became founders of Arabian tribes, and traces of 
their names may still be discovered in Arabia. 



52 GENESIS XXV., XXVI. b. c. 1822-1773. 

heels or strikes up his adversary." This explains Esau's 
subsequent remark : " Is not he rightly named Jacob ? for 
he hath supplanted me these two times." 

41. Abraham dies, 1822. — Abraham died at the 
age of one hundred and seventy-five, and was buried by 
Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpelah. The sons 
of his concubines he had previously sent away from Isaac 
with gifts. Gen. xxv. 5-10. 

42. Abraham the Father of the Faithful. — Abra- 
ham was remarkable for three particular acts of faith — 
viz. 1. Obeying the call of God and leaving his father's 
house to go he knew not whither, and in sojourning in 
the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in 
tabernacles ; 2. Offering up his son Isaac ; 3. Believing 
God's promise that he should be the father of many na- 
tions, though he was one hundred years old and Sarai 
past child-bearing, which faith was imputed to him for 
righteousness. Heb. xi. ; Rom. iv. 

43. Esau sells Ms Birthright, 1805. — One day, 
when Esau and Jacob were each thirty-two years old, 
Esau came in hungry and sold his birthright to Jacob 
for a mess of red pottage. Gen. xxv. 29-34. Esau was 
named Edom, which signifies " red," either from this red 
pottage or from the redness of his hair and complexion. 
Gen. xxv. 25, 30. 

44. Famine in Canaan ; Isaac leaves Mamre for 
Gerar, and deceives Abimelech, 1804. — On account 
of a famine and by divine command, Isaac left Mamre 
for Gerar, where, like his father, he deceived Abimelech, 
the king of the Philistines, by saying that Rebekah was 
his sister. This deceit was discovered by Abimelech, and 
Isaac, after reopening the wells which Abraham had dug, 
but which had been filled up by the Philistines, removed 
to Beersheba, where God confirmed to him the promise 
which he had made to his father ; and Abimelech and 
Phichol also renewed the covenant which they had made 
with Abraham. Gen. xxvi. 

45. Esau marries two Hittite women, 1796 ; 
Ishmael dies, 17 73. — When Esau was forty years old 
he married Judith (or Aholibamah) and Bashemath (or 
Adah), the daughters of Hittites — an alliance which 
grieved the minds of both Isaac and Rebekah. Ishmael 



B. c. 1760. GENESIS XXVL-XXVIII. 53 

had now begat twelve princes, who dwelt between Hav- 
ilah and Shur, and he died in b. c. 1773, at the age of 
one hundred and thirty-seven years. Gen. xxvi. 34, 35 ; 
xxv. 12-18 ; xxxvi. 

46. Isaac blesses Jacob instead of Esau, 1700. — 
When Isaac was one hundred and thirty-seven years old 
he sent Esau to hunt venison, that he might eat the savory 
meat and bless him before he died. Rebekah heard the 
instructions, and hoped to transfer the blessing to her 
favorite son, Jacob. She accordingly desired Jacob to 
fetch two goat-kids from the flock, from which she made 
savory meat, and, after placing the skins upon Jacob's 
neck and hands and clothing him in Esau's raiment, she 
sent him to the bedside of her aged husband. The de- 
ception was successful, and Isaac took the meat from 
Jacob and pronounced over him the patriarchal and pro- 
phetical benediction of abundance, dominion, and supe- 
riority. Scarcely had Jacob left his presence when Esau 
returned, and Isaac discovered the imposition. The agi- 
tated father trembled exceedingly at hearing the bitter 
lamentations of Esau, but confirmed the blessing on 
Jacob, and only pronounced an inferior benediction on 
his first-born ; and the enraged hunter resolved, when his 
father should die, to be revenged by the murder of his 
brother. Gen. xxvii. 

47. Jacob goes to Laban at Haran ; his Dream, 
1760. — The threat of Esau was reported to Rebekah, 
and she prevailed on Isaac to send Jacob to Padan-aram 
[Mesopotamia] for the purpose of seeking a wife amongst 
the daughters of her brother Laban. Jacob, having re- 
ceived the directions of his father, left Beersheba for 
Haran in Mesopotamia, where Laban dwelt, and on the 
approach of night he arranged some stones for his pillows 
and lay down to sleep. The ancestor of the Israelites 
was here encouraged by a celestial vision. A ladder ap- 
peared to connect earth with heaven, upon which angels 
ascended and descended, whilst Jehovah stood on its sum- 
mit and announced himself to Jacob as the God of his 
fathers, and confirmed in him the promises which he had 
made to Isaac and Abraham. Jacob awoke; with trem- 
bling, and, actuated by pious awe, he built a monument 
with the stones he had used for pillows ; and, pouring oil 

5 * 



54 GENESIS XXVIII., XXIX. b. c. 1760-1753. 

upon it, he called the place Bethel — " the house of God " — 
and vowed that if God would fulfil his promise of protec- 
tion, he would devote to him a tenth of his possessions. 
Gen. xxviii. 

48. Esau marries Mahalath, 1700. — Meantime, 
Esau, seeing that his marriages had hitherto displeased 
his father, took his cousin Mahalath, daughter of Ishmael, 
for wife. Gen. xxviii. 9. 

49. Jacob marries Leah and Rachel, 1753. — 
Jacob, on reaching a well in the outskirts of Haran, saw 
his cousin Rachel, the daughter of Laban, and imme- 
diately fell in love with her. He was then welcomed by 
Laban, who had two daughters — Leah, the eldest, who 
was tender-eyed, and Rachel, who was exceedingly beau- 
tiful. Jacob promised to serve his uncle Laban for seven 
years for Rachel ; but when the time had expired and he 
claimed his w 7 ife, Laban artfully substituted Leah for 
Rachel. Jacob w T as incensed at the deceit, but Laban 
pleaded the customs of the country, but promised to give 
Rachel to his son-in-law at the expiration of the mar- 
riage-week, upon his engaging to serve him for another 
seven years. The two marriages were then consummated, 
Zilpah being the handmaid of Leah, and Bilhah the 
handmaid of Rachel. Gen. xxix. 1-30. 

50. Family of Jacob. — Jacob loved Rachel best, 
but, as for some time she was barren and Leah fruitful, 
there was constant rivalry and jealousy between the two 
w T ives. His children were born in Haran in the follow- 
ing order : 

By Leah, his first wife, 

1. Reuben, born b. c. 1752. 

2. Simeon, born b. c. 1751. 

3. Levi, born b. c. 1750. 

4. Judah, born b. c. 1749. 
By Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, 

5. Dan, born b. c. 1748. 

6. Naphtali, born b. c. 1747. 
By Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, 

7. Gad, born b. c. 1748. 

8. Asher, born b. c. 1747. 

By Leah, who gave mandrakes to Rachel, 

9. Issachar, born b. c. 1747. 



b. c. 1745-1739. GENESIS XXX., XXXI. 55 

10. Zebultjn, born b. c. 1746. 
And afterward Dinah, a daughter. 

By Rachel, his second and favorite wife, 

11. Joseph, born b. c. 1745. 

Several years afterward, at Ephrath in Bethlehem, 

12. Benjamin, born b. c. 1729. Gen. xxx. 1-24. 

51. Jacob's new Covenant with Laban, 174:5. — 
Jacob had now served Laban fourteen years for his two 
wives, and was desirous of returning to Beersheba ; but 
Laban pressed him to stay, and promised to give him all 
the cattle which were born with particular marks. By sin- 
gular expedients Jacob contrived that all the healthy cattle 
should be born with the marks required, which so excited 
the envy and discontent of Laban and his sons that Jacob 
determined on returning to Isaac, and his wives readily 
agreed with his resolve. Gen. xxx. 25-43 ; xxxi. 1-16. 

52. Jacob leaves Laban, 1739. — Jacob, having now 
faithfully served Laban for twenty years, was indignant 
at his conduct ; and, being a fearful man, he secretly and 
suddenly left Padan-aram — i. e. Mesopotamia — with his 
wives, sons, possessions, and herds. Laban was ignorant 
of his departure until three days afterward, when he im- 
mediately commenced pursuit, and overtook his son-in- 
law in Mount Gilead, but, being warned by God in a 
dream not to injure Jacob, he only expostulated with him 
on the secrecy of his departure, and accused him of hav- 
ing stolen his gods. Jacob was unaware that Rachel had 
taken these images, and vehemently denied the charge 
and begged Laban to look over the whole of his goods, 
threatening to execute whoever should be found to have 
carried off the idols. But Rachel contrived to conceal 
the gods, and Jacob rebuked Laban for the ungrateful 
return which he made after receiving from him twenty 
years' faithful service. A reconciliation then took place, 
a heap of stones was made, and it was agreed that Jacob 
should not afflict the (laughters of Laban or take other 
wives besides them, and that Laban should never pass 
the heap with the design of injuring Jacob. After a 
friendly feast the two parties separated, Laban to Padan- 
aram and Jacob toward Beersheba. Gen. xxxi. 17-55. 

53. His Vision at Mahanaim and Message to 
Esau. — At Mahanaim, Jacob was met by angels, and 



56 GENESIS XXXII., XXXIII. b. c. 1739-1732. 

from thence he sent messengers to Seir and Edom to en- 
deavor to propitiate his brother Esau, but they returned 
with the tidings that Esau was advancing to meet him 
with four hundred men. Jacob was now terrified and 
distressed, and divided his people and cattle into two 
divisions, that if Esau attacked one the other might 
escape. He then prayed to the God of his fathers, and 
made up a present to his brother of two hundred she- 
goats, twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes, twenty rams, 
thirty milch-camels with their colts, forty kine, ten bulls, 
twenty she-asses, and ten foals. All these he arranged 
in droves with a space between each two, and desired his 
servants to proceed with them, and when asked by Esau 
as to whose they were to reply that the cattle belonged to 
his servant Jacob, who was behind them, and were a 
present for his lord, Esau. Gen. xxxii. 1-20. 

54. Wrestles tvith a Man at Peniel. — Jacob now 
sent his wives and family over the Jabbok and was left 
alone, but he spent the night in a mysterious wrestle with 
a celestial Being, who touched and disjointed the hollow 
of his thigh, and, after blessing him, changed his name 
from Jacob to Israel, or " prevailer with God." Jacob 
then named the jnace Peniel, " the face of God ;" and 
his descendants continue to refuse to eat of that sinew 
which shrank. Gen. xxxii. 20-32. 

55. Meeting tvith Esau. — The next morning Jacob 
passed the ford and saw his brother approaching with 
four hundred men. He immediately placed Rachel and 
Joseph in the rear of his train, and, advancing before it, 
he bowed seven times in obeisance to Esau. The heart 
of the huntsman was touched ; he fell upon the neck of 
Jacob and kissed him, and they both wept. Leah and 
Rachel were then introduced and the present forced upon 
Esau, who afterward returned to Seir, and Jacob jour- 
neyed on slowly to Succoth.* Gen. xxxiii. 

56. Resides at Succoth and Shechem; Slaughter 
of the Shecheynites, 1739-1732. — At Succoth, Jacob 
dwelt for about two years, and then removed to Shalem, 
a city of Shechem, where he bought a field of Hamor, the 
prince of the country, and pitched his tent and erected an 

* See note to sect. 100. 



b. c. 1732-1729. GENESIS XXXIV., XXXV. 



57 



altar. Here Dinah, his daughter by Leah, having min- 
gled with the daughters of the land, was carried off by 
Shechem, son of Hamor. The young man wished to 
atone for his conduct by marriage, and both himself and 
his father endeavored to propitiate Jacob and his sons. 
The brethren of Dinah agreed to the alliance, but de- 
manded the circumcision of the Shechemites ; and the 
third day after the ceremony Simeon and Levi fell upon 
the city, slew all the males, including Hamor and She- 
chem, took Dinah from the house of the young prince, 
and carried off the women and cattle. Jacob bitterly re- 
buked his children for this cruel and treacherous act, and 
remembered it in his dying predictions regarding Simeon 
and Levi. Gen. xxxiii. 18-20 ; xxxiv. 

57. Buries the Idols of his Household and goes to 
Bethel, 1732. — The Lord now commanded Jacob to go to 
Bethel, which he obeyed, after collecting all the idols from 
his household and burying them under the oak at She- 
chem. Here Deborah, the nurse of Rebekah, died, and 
Jehovah again appeared to Jacob and renewed his prom- 
ise of a numerous posterity and possession of Canaan. 
Gen. xxxv. 1-15. 

58. Death of Itachel ; Birth of Benjamin, 1 732. 
— Jacob now left Bethel, but when his family had nearly 
reached Ephrath, Rachel was seized with the pains of 
labor, and died after giving birth to Benjamin, and was 
buried at Ephrath in Bethlehem. Gen. xxxv. 16-20. 
Rachel with her dying lips called the child Benoni — 
i. e. " the son of my sorrow ;" but Jacob, wishing to for- 
get his sorrow, afterward called the child Benjamin — 
i. e. " the son of my right hand." 

59. Reuben's Incest with Bilhah. — Jacob proceeded 
on his journey, but dwelt a while beyond the tower of 
Edar, where Reuben committed incest with Bilhah, Ra- 
chel's handmaid and Jacob's concubine. For this crime 
Reuben received the dying curse of Jacob, and his birth- 
right was transferred to Judah. (See sect. 72.) Gen. 
xxxv. 22. 

60. Jacob resides with Isaac at Mamre, 1720. — 
Jacob now joined his father Isaac at Mamre in Hebron 
in Canaan, and lived with him till he died, thirteen years 
afterward, b. c. 1716. Gen. xxxv. 27-20. 



58 GENESIS XXXVII. b. c. 1729-1727. 

61. Joseph excites his Brethren's Envy. 

TospuTi T5 P 

1745-1635.' ' *wmI *s soZe? £o £7^e IsJiniaelites, 1720. — 

Scarcely had Jacob settled in Canaan when 
Joseph, the elder son of Rachel, who was then seventeen 
years old, excited the hatred and envy of his brethren 
by three circumstances : 1st. He reported to his father 
the misconduct of the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah ; 2d. 
Jacob loved him more than his other children, and gave 
him a coat of divers colors ; 3d. Having dreamed two 
dreams prophetical of an elevated career — one that his 
brothers' sheaves bowed before his sheaf, and another 
that the sun, moon, and eleven stars did obeisance to 
him — he related the visions to his brethren. After this 
he was sent by Jacob to his brethren, who were supposed 
to be keeping their father's flocks at Shechem ; but, 
on arriving at Shechem, Joseph learnt that they were 
gone to Dothan, where he accordingly followed them. 
The sons of Jacob saw their younger brother afar off 
and resolved on slaying him, but Reuben persuaded them 
to throw him alive into a pit, thinking to deliver him af- 
terward and return him to his father. The brethren then 
stripped Joseph of his coat and threw him into a dry pit ; 
but shortly afterward some Ishmaelite [Arabian] mer- 
chants passed by, and, upon Judah's proposition, the 
ten brethren, whilst Reuben was absent, sold Joseph for 
twenty pieces of silver, and he was carried to Egypt. 
When Reuben discovered the deed he rent his clothes, 
but the others dipped Joseph's coat in the blood of a kid 
and carried it to Jacob, who immediately supposed that 
his favorite son had been devoured by a wild beast, and 
refused to be comforted for his death. Gen. xxxvii. 

62. Judah marries a Canaanite ; his Incest with 
his Daughter-in-laiv >, dr. 1727. — About this time 
Judah married the daughter of a certain Canaanite 
named Shuah, and begat three sons, Er, Onan, and She- 
lah. Er married Tamar, but was cut off for his sins; 
Onan, who was to have raised up an heir to his brother, 
met with a similar fate ; and Judah desired Tamar to re- 
main a widow in her father's house until Shelah should 
be grown up. Years passed, and Judah was afraid to 
marry Shelah to Tamar lest he should die like his breth- 
ren. At length Tamar heard that Judah's wife had died 



b. c. 1720-1715. GENESIS XXXVIIL-XL. 59 

and that he had gone with Hirah to Timnath to shear his 
sheep. Tamar accordingly veiled herself as a harlot, and, 
after tempting Judah to visit her, she received from him 
his staff, signet, and bracelets as a pledge that he would 
send her a kid, and returned to her father's house before 
Judah could regain his pledges. Three months afterward 
it was reported to Judah that Tamar had played the har- 
lot, and he ordered her to be brought out and burnt, when 
she showed him his pledges and he acknowledged his guilt. 
She afterward bore twin sons, Pharez and Zarah. Gen. 
xxxviii. 

63. Joseph sold to Botlphar and imprisoned, 
1729-1720. — Meantime, Joseph was carried to Egypt 
and bought by Potiphar, a captain of Pharaoh's guard. 
Here he rose to be overseer in Potiphar's household, and 
the house was blessed for his sake ; but, having resisted 
Potiphar's wife, she falsely accused him, and he was 
thrown into prison, where he rose in the favor of the 
keeper and kept charge of the other prisoners. Gen. 
xxxix. 

64. Interprets the Dreams of Pharaoh's Butler 
and Baker, 1720-1718. — About b. c. 1720 the king's 
butler and baker were cast into the same prison by Pha- 
raoh, where they each had a remarkable vision, which 
they described to Joseph. The butler dreamed that he 
saw a vine with three branches bud, blossom, and bring 
forth grapes, which he pressed into Pharaoh's cup and 
gave into Pharaoh's hand. This Joseph interpreted to 
signify that in three days he should be released from his 
prison and restored to his place, and the captive Hebrew 
begged the butler then to remember his innocent fellow- 
prisoner and attempt his release. The baker dreamed 
that he had three white baskets on his head, the upper- 
most one containing baked meats for Pharaoh, but which 
were eaten by the birds while he was carrying it. This 
was explained by Joseph to mean that he too should be 
taken from prison in three days, but only to be hung 
upon a tree for birds to eat his flesh. The two dreams 
were fulfilled : the chief baker was hanged and the but- 
ler was restored to his place, where he soon forgot the 
condition of Joseph. (Jen. xl. 

65. Interprets Pharaoh's two Dreams, 1715. — 



60 GENESIS XLI. b. c. 1715-1701. 

After two full years Pharaoh dreamed that he saw seven 
fat kine come out of the river and feed in a meadow, but 
were followed by seven lean kine, who ate up the seven 
fat ones. Again, he dreamed that seven full ears of 
corn sprang from one stalk, and seven thin ears, blasted 
with the east wind, sprang up after them and devoured 
them. These two visions troubled the king, and none of 
the Egyptian magicians could interpret them, when the 
chief butler remembered the interpretations of Joseph 
and reported them to Pharaoh. The Hebrew captive 
was hastily released from prison and brought to the 
royal presence, where he thus interpreted the visions. 
" The two dreams," said Joseph, " are one : the seven fat 
kine and seven full ears are seven years of plenty, and 
the thin kine and blasted ears are seven years of fam- 
ine, which shall follow the years of plenty and consume 
all that they produced." Joseph now advised Pharaoh 
to choose a wise man who might appoint officers to take 
a fifth of the produce during the seven years of plenty, 
and store it up for the seven years' famine. Gen. xli. 1-3*6. 

66. Made chief Mnler of JEgypt and marries Ase- 
nath, 1715, — Joseph was now thirty years old, having 
been thirteen years in prison, but his counsel pleased Pha- 
raoh and his princes, and he was immediately exalted to 
the highest honors next the king, and married to Ase- 
nath, daughter of Potipherah, priest of On.* Gen. xli. 
37-45. 

67. Seven years' Plenty, 1715-1708 ; Birth of 
3tanasseh, 17 12 ; of JEpJiraini, 1711, — For seven 
years the new ruler went through Egypt and collected 
corn as the sand of the sea and stored it up in vast gran- 
aries. Two sons were born to him by Asenath — Ma- 
nasseh and Ephraim, who became the fathers of two of 
the twelve tribes. Gen. xli. 46-57. 

68. Seven years' Famine, 17 OS-17 01 ; first Visit of 
Joseph's Brethren, 1707. — A famine now commenced 
and spread over all nations, but the storehouses of Joseph 
became the granaries of the world. The family of Jacob 
felt the famine, and the patriarch was compelled to send 

* On is the same as Heliopolis, a celebrated city in Lower Egypt, 
whose priests were particularly renowned for their learning. See 
Herodotus, ii. 3. 



b. c. 1706. GENESIS XLIL 61 

ten of his sons to Egypt to buy corn ; for he kept back 
Benjamin, lest he should meet with the supposed fate of 
Joseph. The governor of Egypt recognized his brethren 
without their knowing him, but he charged them with 
being spies and threw them into prison, but released them 
after three days, with the exception of Simeon, whom he 
kept as a pledge that they should bring him their younger 
brother. The nine sons of Jacob now returned to their 
father, but on their way discovered that the money they 
had paid for the corn was enclosed in their sacks ; this 
terrified Jacob, and he refused to send Benjamin, though 
Reuben offered his own sons as a surety for his life. Gen. 
xlii. 

69. Second Visit of Joseph's BretJiren, 1706. — 
Famine at last compelled Jacob to send Benjamin with 
his other brethren to Egypt to buy corn, but the old man 
strictly charged his sons to propitiate the Egyptian ruler 
by presents and to take double money, lest that which 
they had discovered in their sacks should have been 
placed there through inadvertence. On their arrival in 
Egypt, Joseph ordered his steward to take them to his 
house and make ready the noonday meal. The brethren 
were now frightened, and on reaching the house they ex- 
plained to the steward the restoration of their money, but 
he replied that he had received it, and it must have been 
their God who had restored it ; he further reassured them 
by bringing out Simeon. Joseph soon followed his breth- 
ren and the meal was served, but Joseph sat at one table, 
his brethren at another, and the Egyptians at a third, " as 
shepherds were an abomination to the Egyptians." The 
brethren were entertained liberally, but were surprised at 
finding themselves placed at table exactly in the order 
of their ages, and that Joseph sent a fivefold portion to 
Benjamin. The next morning they left the city, but 
Joseph had first commanded his steward to restore the 
money as before, but to place his silver cup in the sack of 
Benjamin. They had not, therefore, proceeded far before 
the steward overtook them and charged them with rob- 
bery. They immediately protested their innocence, chal- 
lenged investigation, and invoked death on the man who 
should be proved guilty ; but the cup was found with Ben- 
jamin, and the distressed brethren were compelled to re- 



62 GENESIS XLIII.-XLV. b. c. 1706. 

turn to Joseph. Judah now made to the supposed Egyp- 
tian ruler an affecting relation of the disappearance of 
Joseph, and of Jacob's peculiar affection for Benjamin ; 
and then, after stating that the death of their aged father 
would certainly follow the detention of his beloved son, 
he offered to abide himself as a bondman if the lad were 
permitted to return. Joseph could now refrain no longer, 
but speedily told his brethren that the brother whom they 
had sold for a slave had become the governor of Egypt ; 
he then assured them of his hearty forgiveness, and in- 
vited both themselves and Jacob to settle in Egypt during 
the remaining years of famine. The invitation was sec- 
onded by Pharaoh, and wagons, changes of raiment, and 
asses laden with provision were sent by Pharaoh and 
Joseph for the accommodation of the children of Israel. 
Gen. xliii.-xlv. 

70. Israelites migrate to Egypt, 1706. — When 
Jacob's sons returned from Egypt, their venerable father 
could scarcely believe their report ; but, on seeing the 
wagons, he cried, " It is enough ; Joseph my son is yet 
alive ; I will go and see him before I die." He accord- 
ingly commenced the journey ; and, having sacrificed at 
Beersheba and been again encouraged by God, he arrived 
in Egypt with his sixty-four sons and grandsons, one 
daughter, Dinah, and one granddaughter, Sarah, amount- 
ing in all to sixty-six persons. Gen. xlvi. 26. These, with 
himself and Joseph and his two sons, made seventy per- 
sons (v. 27) ; whilst the sixty-six persons, with his nine 
sons' wives, make the seventy-five persons mentioned in 
Acts vii. 14. Jacob migrated to Egypt b. c. 1706, being 
exactly two hundred and fifteen years from the call of 
Abraham in b. c. 1921. Joseph then presented his father 
and five of his brethren to Pharaoh, and the old man, 
with one hundred and thirty years' experience, declared 
that his years were evil and few, and blessed the Egyptian 
king. The land of Goshen* was then assigned to the 

* Goshen was the best pasture-land in Egypt, and probably included 
the district of Heliopolis. It certainly lay eastward of the Pelusiac 
branch of the Nile, and stretched to the desert, or even to the Gulf of 
Suez, as no mention is made of the Israelites crossing the Nile in their 
exode under Moses. — Heeren's African Jiesearches. 



d. c. 1702-1689. GENESIS XLVL, XLVII. 63 

Hebrews for a residence, as shepherds were an abomina- 
tion to the Egyptians. Gen. xlvi. ; xlvii. 1-12. 

71. Policy of Joseph during the Famine, 1702, 

1701. — The famine soon pressed heavily upon the Egyp- 
tians ; all their money had been spent in buying corn, and 
they were at length compelled to give, first their cattle, and 
afterward their lands, in exchange for corn. Joseph thus 
destroyed the free proprietors and made the king the lord- 
paramount of the soil ; whilst the people became the hered- 
itary tenants of their sovereign, and paid a fifth of their 
annual produce as rent for the soil they occupied. The 
priests only retained their estates through this trying 
period.* Gen. xlvii. 13-26. 

72. Dying Acts and Prophecies of Jacob, 1689. 
— After the Hebrews had resided for seventeen years in 
Egypt and multiplied exceedingly, the time came that 
Jacob should die. The aged patriarch raised himself on 
his dying bed, and having blessed his two grandsons 
through Joseph, and blessed Ephraim, the younger, 
above Manasseh, the first-born, and made them both 
equal to his own sons, he thus prophesied concerning the 
future destinies of the twelve : 

1. Heuben, the first-born, who had committed incest with 
Bilhah: "Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel." 

2. Simeon, 3. Levi, who had treacherously slain the 

* Heeren states that this policy of Joseph weakened the nation, and 
ultimately led to the irruption of the Hyksos, or Shepherd-kings, who 
are generally supposed to have been Bedouin Arabs. The administra- 
tion of Joseph has, however, been fully defended by Kitto ; and, in- 
deed, there is every reason to believe that the invasion of the Shepherd- 
kings was prior to the time of Joseph. We read that when Abram 
visited Egypt, some centuries before, he was treated with great consid- 
eration by the reigning Pharaoh (sect. 21), though he was in the cha- 
racter of a pastoral chief, which was regarded with abomination by the 
native government in the time of Joseph. It is most probable, there- 
fore, that the pastoral dynasty existed at the time of Abram's visit, but 
was extinguished prior to the government of Joseph ; which accounts for 
the fact that under the latter every nomad shepherd was detested at tho 
Egyptian court (sect. 69), in consequence of the oppressive and humil- 
iating dominion which the pastors had exercised in the country. This 
is also confirmed by the testimony of Mr. Wilkinson. Kitto thinks it 
not improbable that the Shepherd-kings were Assyrian viceroys; and 
if this can be proved by the future researches of Mr. Layard or Major 
Rawlinson, it will throw great light on many circumstances in the 
lives of the patriarchs. 



64 GENESIS XLVIIL, XLIX. b. c. 1689. 

Shechemites for their insult to Dinah: "Cursed be their anger, 
for it was fierce ; and their wrath, for it was cruel : I will divide 
them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." 

4. Judah: "Thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: 
thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies ; thy father's chil- 
dren shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion's whelp: from 
the prey, my son, thou art gone up : he stooped down, he couched 
as a lion, and as an old lion ; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre, 
shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until 
Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. . . . 
His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk." 

5. Zebulun: " Shall be an haven for ships." 

(S. Jssachar: "Is a strong ass couching down between two 
burdens : . . . and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a ser- 
vant unto tribute." 

7. Dan: "Shall judge his people, . . . shall be a serpent by 
the way, and an adder in the path." 

8. Gad: "A troop shall overcome him: but he shall over- 
come at the last." 

9. Asher: "His bread shall be fat." 

10. Naphtali: "A hind let loose; he giveth goodly words." 

11. Joseph: "A fruitful bough by a well. . . . The God of 
thy father, who shall help thee ; and the Almighty, who shall 
bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep 
that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and blessings of the womb : 
. . . the blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings 
of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills : 
they shall be on the head of Joseph." 

12* Benjamin: "Shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he 
shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil." 
Gen. xlviii. ; xlix. 

73. Fulfilment of Jacob's Prophecies. — The history 
of all the tribes would furnish striking instances of the ful- 
filment of these prophecies, and more particularly the his- 
tory of the descendants of Judah and Joseph. From 
Judah the country was called " Judsea," and the people 
" Jews." This tribe was famous — 1. For its conquests ; 
2. For the kingdoms of David and Solomon ; 3. For the 
birth of the Messiah ; 4. For being a distinct people, and 
having governors of their own down to the time of the 
Messiah or Shiloh. Moreover, whilst the ten tribes of 
Israel were carried captive into Assyria and entirely lost, 
those of Judah and Benjamin were held in Babylonian 
captivity for seventy years only, after which they returned 
to the land of their fathers. 

In Joseph the blessing of Jacob was fulfilled, in his 



b. c. 1639-1635. GENESIS L. 65 

being the progenitor of the two large tribes of Ephraim 
and Manasseh, from whom sprang the celebrated Joshua, 
etc. 

The curse of Levi was afterward taken off on account 
of the pious zeal of the Levites in destroying the wor- 
shippers of the golden calf and consecrating themselves 
to God. 

74. Death and Burial, 1689. — Having closed his 
prophetical benedictions, Jacob charged his sons to bury 
him in the cave of Machpelah, and yielded up the ghost 
at the age of one hundred and forty-seven years. His 
body was embalmed by the physicians of Joseph, which 
process occupied forty days,* and the mourning lasted 
seventy days ; after which, Joseph obtained the permission 
of Pharaoh to attend the funeral of his father. Accord- 
ingly, all the house of Jacob and Joseph, together with 
all the servants of Pharaoh and elders of Egypt, left 
Goshen and buried Jacob in the cave of Machpelah, hav- 
ing mourned at the threshing-floor of Atad beyond Jordan 
for seven days ; which place was afterward called Abel- 
mizraim, or "the mourning of the Egyptians." Gen. 1. 

75. Joseph again forgives his Brethren, — After 
Joseph's return to Egypt, his brethren feared that he 
would now seek revenge for their former cruelty, but, 
having sent a message praying for his forgiveness, he re- 
assured them by kind words and good offices. Gen. 1. 
14-21. 

76. Death of Joseph, 1<>35, — At length, fifty-four 
years after the death of his father, Joseph, having seen 
the grandsons of his two sons, felt that his dying hour 
was approaching. He assured his brethren that God 
would certainly lead them *to the land of promise, and 
enjoined them to carry his bones with them. He died, 
aged one hundred and ten years, and his body was em- 
balmed and placed in a coffin, in which it was preserved 
till the exode of the Hebrews. Gen. 1. 22-26 ; Josh, 
xxiv. 32. 

77. Joseph a Type of Christ. — Joseph was a type of 

:f: Herodotus says that the Egyptian embalm era st<cped the body in 
natrum or in nitro for seventy days (lib. ii. c. 80-'J0). 

6* E 



66 GENESIS L. b. c. 1635. 

Christ in being — 1. A dearly-beloved son ; 2. A firm re- 
sister of temptation ; 3. An inspired interpreter and 
prophet ; 4. A patient sufferer of trials and inflictions ; 
5. The preserver or saviour of a nation. 

78. Scriptural meaning of a " Type," — Typical or 
type means literally "a resemblance," but scripturally it 
signifies a symbol of something future, or an example de- 
signed by God to prefigure that future thing ; the thing 
so prefigured is called an antitype. 

79. Typical Intimations of the Messiah in Gene- 
sis. — The Messiah was typified in — 1. Adam, who was 
the natural father of mankind, as Christ, the second 
Adam, was the spiritual father ; 2. Noah, who like Christ 
was a preacher of righteousness, whilst the ark was a 
figure of our salvation; 3. Melchisedek, who was 
" without father, without mother, without descent, having 
neither beginning of days, nor end of life ; but made like 
unto the Son of God " (Heb. vii. 1-3) ; 4. Isaac (see 
sect. 36, note) ; 5. Joseph (see sect. 77). Abel's sacrifice 
and the offering of Isaac are also typical of our Saviour. 

80. JProplietical Intimations and their Fulfil- 
ment. — Genesis records three intimations of the Mes- 
siah — viz. 

1st. By God to the serpent : " It (the seed of the woman) 
shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." 
Gen. iii. 15. Fulfilment : " When the fulness of time 
was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman." 
Gal. iv. 4. " The God of peace shall bruise Satan under 
your feet shortly." Kom. xvi. 20. "The Son of God 
was manifested that he might destroy the works of the 
devil." 1 John iii. 8. "That old serpent." Rev. xii. 9. 
(See also Heb. ii. 14.) 

2d. By God to Abraham : " In thee shall all the fami- 
lies of the earth be blessed" (Gen. xii. 3; xviii. 18 ; xxii. 
18); also to Isaac (Gen. xxvi. 4), and to Jacob. Gen. 
xxviii. 14. Fulfilment : " I bring you good tidings of 
great joy which shall be to all people." Luke ii. 10. "It 
is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah." Heb. 
vii. 14. 

3d. By Jacob to Judah : "The sceptre shall not depart 
from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until 
Shiloh come." Gen. xlix. 10. Fulfilment: "The high 



B. c. 1635. 



GENESIS L. 



67 



priesthood did not cease to exercise their authority until 
A. d. 70. — Home. 



Antediluvian 
patriarchs. 



Sons of 
Noah. 



Names, and Meanings of the Names, of the principal Persons 

mentioned in Genesis. 
Adam {earthy). 
Eve (living). 

Cain (possession, or acquisition). 
Abel (vanity). 
Setli (appointed). 
Enoch (dedicated) taken up into heaven without 

dying. 
Methuselah (he has sent his death), the oldest 

man. 
Lamech (poor, debased). 
Noah (rest). 

Shein (renown), the progenitor of the nations of 

Asia. 
Ham (heat), of Africa. 
Japheth (enlarged, persuading), of Europe. 

Terah (breathing), father 

Haran (anger), brother 

Sarah (lady, princess), wife [ of Abraham. 

Laban (shining), nephew 

Lot (wrapt, up), nephew 

Isaac {laughter), the child promised to Sarah. 
Ishrnael (God will hear), the son of Hagar 

(a stranger), Sarah's bondwoman, and 

progenitor of the Arabians. 

Esau or Edom (red), founder of Idumsea and the 
Edomites. 

Jacob (heeler, supplanter), bought Esau's birth- 
right and inherited his blessing, after- 
ward called Israel (prevailer). 

Reuben (vision of a son). 

Simeon (obedient). 

Levi {associated). 

Judah (praise). 

Issachar (a hiring). 

Z liiilnn (dwelling). 

.J<>s"i>h (increase). 

Benjamin (son of my right hand). 

Dan (judging). 

Naphtali (my wrestling). 

Gad (troop). 

A s h or (happiness ) . 



Sons of 
Abraham. 



- Sons of Isaac. 



The twelve sons of Jacob. 



68 EXODUS. b. c. 1571. 

Dinah (judgment) Jacob's daughter. 

Ephraim (very fruitful). \ Q e T -. 
Manasseh (forget/nlnels). } bons of Jose P h ' 



EXODUS. 

E^, " out,'" and oo*og, " a way" — the way out or going out from Egypt. 

HISTORY OP THE JEWS AS A NOMAD FAMILY, FROM THE DEATH OF JOSEPH 
UNTIL THE BUILDING OF THE TABERNACLE AND CONSECRATION OF THE 
PRIESTHOOD. B. C. 1635 to 1490. 



ANALYSIS. 

I. History of the Exode from Egypt, the Journey to Sinai, and 
Delivery of the Law. 

Moses, 1571— 1451,— Condition of the Jews after the 
death of Joseph, 1635-1571.— Birth of Moses, 1571.— His flight to 
Midian, 1531.— Called by God at Horeb, 1491— Returns to Egypt, 
circumcises his son, and meets Aaron, 1491. — Moses and Aaron 
stand before Pharaoh. — 1st plague, Blood ; 2d, Frogs ; 3d, Lice ; 
4th, Flies; 5th, Murrain ; 6th, Boils ; 7th, Hail ; 8th, Locusts ; 
9th, Darkness. — Passover instituted. — 10th plague, Death of the 
first-born. — The Exodus, 1491. — Feast of unleavened bread and 
sanctification of the first-born. — Journey from Raamses to Pihahi- 
roth. — Passage of the Red Sea. — Wanderings to Marah (bitter 
water), Elim, and Sin, or Sinai. — Water, quails, and manna. — Prop- 
erties of manna. — Journeying to Rephidim ; water obtained from 
Horeb. — Joshua defeats the Amalekites. — Visit of Jethro ; magis- 
trates appointed. — Encampment before Mount Sinai — Promulgation 
of the moral law (ten commandments) by Jehovah. — Promulgation 
of the civil and ceremonial law through Moses. — Idolatry of Israel- 
with a golden calf. — Renewal of the tables of stone. — [Completion 
of the tabernacle, 1490, p. 94.], page 69, 

II. The Moral and Civil Law* 

First and second commandments, against idolatry, false prophets, 
divinations, etc. — Third commandment, against taking God's name 

* As the civil law was based on the moral law, or ten commandments, 
it is in the present work analyzed and classified under each command- 
ment for the convenience of reference. 



B.C. 1635-1571. EXODUS. 69 

in vain, blasphemy, etc. — Fourth commandment, against breaking 
the Sabbath. — Fifth commandment, against disobedience to parents. 
— Sixth commandment, against murder; law of manslaughter; minor 
corporal injuries. — Seventh commandment, against adultery, unlaw- 
ful marriages, divorcements, fornication ; other matrimonial laws. 
— Eighth commandment, against stealing; arson, trespass, and land- 
marks ; men-stealing and fugitive servants ; usury, pledges, and 
things committed in charge ; law respecting heirships. — Ninth com- 
mandment, against false witnessing. — Tenth commandment, against 
covetousness. Miscellaneous precepts. — Laws respecting Sea- 
very page 80. 

§ Jewish Constitution. 

Composition of the Jewish state. — The comitia, or legislative 
assemblies. — Method and place of convening the comitia. — Powers 
of the comitia. — Connection of the tribes with each other. — Tribu- 
nal instituted by the advice of Jethro page 86. 

III. The Ceremonial Law.* 

1. The Tabernacle. — External description: — The Hoey 
and the Most Holy Place. — Furniture of the Holy Place, viz. 1st. 
The altar of incense ; 2d. The shew-bread table ; 3d. The candle- 
stick. — Furniture of the Most Holy Place, viz. 1st. The ark, and its 
subsequent history; 2d. The mercy-scat; 3d. The cherubim, the 
Shechinah. — Court of the Tabernacle — its furniture, viz. 1st. 
The altar of burnt-offering ; 2d. The laver. . . page 89. 

# Typical intimations of the Messiah in Exodus. . page 95. 



SUMMARY. 

I. History of the Exode from Egypt, the Journey to Sinai, 
and Delivery of the Law. 

81. Condition of the Jews after the 
M i5 S 7i-i4 B 5i C " Death of Joseph, 1635-1571.— During 

the sixty-four years which extended between 
the death of Joseph and birth of Moses,f the Israelites 

* The ceremonial law is divided into six branches — viz. 1. The tab- 
ernacle; 2. The priests and Levites j 3. Offerings, including sacrifices, 
oblations, etc.; 4. Feasts and festivals; 5. Vows; and, 6. Purifications. 
Of these, the first only is to he found in Exodus; the remaining five 
are contained in Leviticus. (Sec "Analysis of Leviticus.") 

f The only historical fact recorded of the Israelites between the 
death of Joseph and the period recorded in Exodus is to be found in 
1 Chron. vii. 21. From (his it appears that a body of Ephraimites, 
headed by the sons of Zabad, the sixth in descent from Ephraim, un- 



70 EXODUS I., II. b. c. 1571-1541. 

had increased so rapidly as to alarm the Egyptians, and 
another Pharaoh* had ascended the throne, who knew 
not Joseph. The children of Jacob were oppressed by 
tyrannical demands of personal service ; they built two 
treasure-cities, Pithom and Raamses, and labored in every 
variety of public work, but continued to multiply in spite 
of their bondage and afflictions. Pharaoh then ordered 
the two Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to destroy 
all the male infants of the Israelites ; but the two women 
did not comply, and Pharaoh then commanded his people 
to throw the male infants of the Hebrews into the Nile. 
Ex. i. 

82. Birth of Moses, 1571.— At this time a child 
was born to two Levites, Amram and Jochebed, and its 
mother was tempted by its extreme beauty to conceal it 
for three months ; after which, she placed it in an ark of 
bulrushes [papyrus] and laid it on the flags beside the 
Nile. Here the child Moses-^*. e. "saved from the 
water" — was discovered and adopted by the daughter 
of Pharaoh, who accidentally gave him to his own 
mother to be nursed, and had him educated in the sev- 
eral branches of Egyptian learning. Ex. ii. 1-10. 

83. His Flight to Midian, 1541.— When Moses 
was forty years old he observed the burdens of his breth- 
ren, and on one occasion slew an Egyptian who was 
smiting a Hebrew. The next day he was mediating be- 
tween two Hebrews who were striving together, when one 
of them referred to the murder, and soon afterward Pha- 
raoh sought to slay Moses, and he was obliged to flee to 
Midian, in the deserts of Arabia Petrsea. Here he sat 
down by a well and assisted the seven daughters of 
Reuel, Raguel, or Jethro, priest of Midian — i. e. sheikh 
or prince of a Midianite clan — to water their flocks, for the 



dertook a kind of freebooting expedition into the land of the Philis- 
tines, with the view of driving off the cattle belonging to the men of 
Gath : but they were repulsed by the Philistines with much slaughter, 
and Zabad lost all his sons. 

* It has been generally supposed that this Pharaoh belonged to the 
race of Shepherd-kings; but it has been proved (see note to sect. 71) 
that these Shepherd-kings were expelled prior to Joseph. Who the 
monarch was that knew not Joseph must be left for future historical 
researches to decide. Present opinions are conflicting and incon- 



B. c. 1491. EXODUS II.-IV. 71 

shepherds had tried to drive them away. Jethro then 
invited Moses into his house, and afterward gave him his 
daughter Zipporah for a wife, who bore a son, named 
Gershom. Ex. ii. 11-22. 

84. Called by God at Horeb, 1491. — Forty years 
after this Pharaoh died, and God heard the prayers of 
the Hebrews and appeared to Moses, who was then eighty 
years old, in a flaming bush, while he was keeping his 
flocks at Horeb [Sinai J. The Almighty first commanded 
Moses to pull off his shoes, and then announced himself 
as the God of Abraham, and desired Moses to demand 
of Pharaoh the deliverance of his brethren, and to lead 
them to Canaan. Moses was diffident of his success with 
Pharaoh, and afraid that the Israelites would desire to 
know the name of that God who had sent him ; but the 
Lord replied, " I AM THAT I AM," and desired Moses 
to tell the Hebrews that the God of their fathers had sent 
him to lead them from Egypt to Canaan, and to request 
of Pharaoh permission for them to go three days' journey 
into the wilderness to worship their God. He then fur- 
ther encouraged Moses by the two miracles of the ser- 
pent-rod and the leprous hand, assuring him that if these 
should fail with Pharaoh, other miraculous signs and 
plagues should follow, and that, as he was wanting in 
eloquence, his brother Aaron should be spokesman to the 
people. Ex. ii. 23-25 ; iii. ; iv. 1-17. 

85. Moses returns to Egypt, circumcises his Son, 
and meets Aaron, 1491. — Moses now returned to Jeth- 
ro, and obtained permission to visit his brethren. On his 
way from Midian to Egypt he was met by an angel of 
the Lord, who sought to kill him, upon which his wife 
Zipporah circumcised their son. Meantime, Aaron, the 
elder brother of Moses by the same parents, by a divine 
command went to meet Moses in the wilderness ; and the 
two brothers arrived at Egypt, assembled the elders of 
Israel* and told their mission, and confirmed it by the 
two signs of the serpent-rod and leprous hand. Ex. iv. 
18-31. 

86. Moses and Aaron stand before Pharaoh. — 



* For an account of the political and civil condition of the elders of 
Israel, see "Jewish Constitution," sect. L33. 



72 EXODUS V.-IX. 



b. c. 1491. 



Moses, who was eighty years old, and Aaron, eighty-three 
years, then entered Pharaoh's presence and requested per- 
mission for the Hebrews to go three days' journey into 
the wilderness to sacrifice to Jehovah ; but Pharaoh not 
only contemptuously refused, but added to the burdens 
of the Israelites by obliging them to collect the straw 
with which to make the bricks. Moses shrank from ap- 
pearing again before Pharaoh, but in answer to his reit- 
erated objections fresh assurances were given of the divine 
presence and protection. The two brethren again entered 
Pharaoh's presence, when Aaron's rod was transformed 
into a serpent before him ; and though the Egyptian en- 
chanters were permitted to imitate the miracle with their 
rods, yet that of Aaron swallowed them all up. Ex. v. ; 
vi. ; vii. 1-13. 

87. The Ten Plagues. — The heart of Pharaoh was 
still hardened, and the plagues threatened by Jehovah 
were now to be accomplished. 

88. First Plague, Blood. — Kivers, pools, and all 
water in vessels were turned to blood for seven days, and 
the fishes died. The enchanters imitated the miracle. 
Ex. vii. 19-25. 

89. Second Plague, Frogs. — The river [Nile] brought 
forth swarms of frogs, and the enchanters imitated the 
miracle, but could not remove the plague. Pharaoh beg- 
ged for relief and promised compliance to Moses, but af- 
ter the frogs were destroyed he recalled his word. Ex. 
viii. 1-15. 

90. Third Plague, Lice. — The dust turned to lice, 
and the enchanters failed to imitate this miracle; but 
Pharaoh continued hardened. Ex. viii. 16-19. 

91. Fourth Plague, Flies. — All Egypt except Goshen 
swarmed with flies. Pharaoh begged the Israelites to wor- 
ship where they were, which Moses refused. He then 
promised to let them go into the wilderness; but when 
the flies had vanished, he again broke his word. Ex. viii. 
20-32. 

92. Fifth Plague, Murrain. — A deadly murrain at- 
tacked the Egyptian cattle only, and left the Israelite 
herds untouched; but Pharaoh was still hardened. Ex. 
ix. 1-7. 

93. Sixth Plague, Boils and Plains. — Moses flung 



b. c. 1491. EXODUS IX V X. 73 

ashes toward heaven, which turned to dust and produced 
boils and blains upon man and beast, including the ma- 
gicians ; but Pharaoh was still hardened. Ex. ix. 8-12. 

94. Seventh Plague, Hail, — Hail was now threat- 
ened, but Pharaoh was still hardened, though some of 
the Egyptians placed their cattle in safety. Fire and 
hail then destroyed man, beast, herb, tree, barley, and 
flax. Pharaoh again entreated Moses ; but when the 
storm was allayed, he refused to let the Israelites go. 
Ex. ix. 13-35. 

95. Eighth Plague, Locusts. — Moses threatened lo- 
custs, when Pharaoh offered to let the Israelites go for 
the three days if they would leave their children and 
cattle as hostages. This was rejected, and locusts de- 
voured all that the hail had left. Pharaoh again prom- 
ised, was again relieved, but again broke his word. Ex. 
x. 1-20. 

96. Ninth Plague, Darkness. — Darkness covered all 
Egypt save Goshen for three days. Pharaoh offered to 
let the Israelites go if they would leave their flocks and 
herds as security for their return. But this proposition 
was rejected, as the cattle would be required for the sac- 
rifices. Moses then threatened the death of the first-born, 
but Pharaoh ordered both Moses and Aaron from his 
presence, and assured them of death if they again en- 
tered it. Ex. x. 21-29. 

97. Passover Instituted. — Moses now at God's com- 
mand ordered each of the elders of Israel to choose a male 
lamb of the first year, without blemish, from the sheep or 
goats, one for every family or for two small families unit- 
ing. The lamb was to be chosen on the tenth day of the 
month, and eaten on the evening of the fourteenth day ; 
and the month [Abib, corresponding to part of March 
and April] was from that time to be called the first 
month of their year, though previously it had been 
counted as the seventh.* The Hebrews were to kill the 
lamb in the evening and sprinkle its blood over the door- 
posts with a bunch of hyssop, that the destroying angel 
might know their houses and pass them by. They were 
also to roast the lamb whole and eat it with unleavened 

* From this time the Israelites reckoned Abib as the first month of 
their vacred year, but as the seventh of their civil year. 

7 



74 EXODUS XL, XII. 



c. 1491. 



bread and bitter herbs, and to eat it in haste, with their 
loins girded, their shoes on their feet, and their staves in 
their hands. Foreigners, hired servants, and uncircum- 
cised strangers were not to eat it, and what was left in 
the morning was to be burnt. Defiled and unclean per- 
sons could not eat it until purified ; then they might 
keep it on the fourteenth day of the second month. 
This feast was to be kept as an ordinance for ever. (See 
sect. 188.) Ex. xii. ; xiii. 1-16. 

98. Tenth Plague, Death of the First-born ; Ex- 
ode of the Hebrews, 1491. — The awful hour at length 
arrived, and whilst the Hebrews were eating the paschal 
lamb the Lord smote all the first-born of the Egyptians, 
both man and beast. Amid the fearful mournings which 
ensued, Pharaoh hastily summoned Moses and Aaron and 
commanded both them and the Israelites to depart. The 
Egyptians cried, " We be all dead men," and readily lent 
jewels and raiment to the Hebrews to expedite their ex- 
ode ; whilst the latter were compelled to carry off their 
dough in its unleavened state, bound upon their shoul- 
ders in leathern kneading-troughs. Ex. xi. ; xii. 29-36.* 

* Individual Design and Character of the Miracles in Egypt. — The mir- 
acle of the serpent-rod of Aaron authenticated the mission of Moses 
and proved the fallacy of the serpent-worship of the Egyptians. The 
plagues of blood and frogs were directed against the worship of the 
Nile. The plague of lice was a general judgment on Egyptian idola- 
try, by the laws of which the priests wore only linen garments, and 
shaved their whole bodies once a day to guard against the slightest 
risk of contamination from so impure an insect. The plague of flies 
was designed to destroy the trust of the people in Beelzebub — i. e. "lord 
of flies " — who was supposed to protect them from such ravenous swarms. 
The murrain which destroyed the cattle also aimed at the destruction 
of the entire system of brute-worship amongst the Egyptians. The 
plague of boils and Mains will be better understood by the mention of 
the following fact. Human victims were occasionally burnt alive on 
several altars to propitiate Typhon, or the evil principle, after which 
the officiating priest cast their ashes into the air in order that evil 
might be averted from every spot to which an atom was wafted. Moses 
cast a handful of the ashes into the air, which, instead of averting the 
evil, brought down boils and blains, and thus made the bloody rites of 
Typhon a curse to the idolaters. The plague of the locusts showed the 
impotence of Serapis, who was supposed to protect the country against 
these destructive insects, which now appeared and retired only at the 
command of Moses. The plagues of hail and darkness were directed 
against the worship of Isis and Osiris — the sun and moon — who were 
supposed to control the light and the elements. Thus Jehovah, the 
Lord of hosts, summoned nature to proclaim him the true God. The 
God of Israel asserted his supremacy, and exerted his power to degrade 



b. c. 1491. EXODUS XII., XIII. 75 

99. Feast of Unleavened Bread and Sanctification 
of the First-bom. — In remembrance of these events the 
Israelites were ordered to eat unleavened bread during the 
seven days after the passover for ever — viz. from the four- 
teenth day of Abib till the twenty-first. (See sect. 188.) 
They were also commanded to sanctify the first-born male 
of both man and beast to Jehovah, but they might re- 
deem the firstling of an ass with a lamb, and their 
children with money. (See sect. 182.) Ex. xii. 15-20 ; 
xiii. 1-16. 

100. Journey from Haamses to Pihahiroth. — The 
Israelites, to the number of 600,000, exclusive of children, 
left Kaamses with their cattle and a mixed multitude of 
people exactly four hundred and thirty years from the 
calling of Abraham — viz. b. c. 1921-1491 — having dwelt 
in Egypt two hundred and fifteen years — viz. b. c. 1706- 
1491. They left Egypt harnessed — i. e. five in a rank — 
and carried with them the bones of Joseph, according to 
his dying injunction ; and, being led by a pillar of cloud by 
day and of fire by night, they encamped successively at 
Succoth * and Etham, and at length reached Pihahiroth, 
on the western arm of the Red Sea, after making a cir- 
cuitous route through the wilderness. Ex. xiii. 17-22. 

101. Passage of the lied Sea. — Meantime, Pharaoh 
repented the liberation of the Hebrews, and hastily pur- 
sued them with six hundred chariots and a host of cav- 
alry. The trembling Israelites at Pihahiroth saw the 
army approaching, and cried to Moses, "Because there 
were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die 
in the wilderness?" Moses replied, "Fear ye not, stand 
still and see the salvation of the Lord." The angel of 
God then removed the pillar of cloud to the rear, where 
it became a light to the Israelites and a darkness to the 
Egyptians. The outstretched hand of Moses then opened 

the idols, destroy idolatry, and liberate the descendants of Abraham 
from the land of their bondage. And in the last miracle of all, when 
the "angel of pestilence breathed in the face" of all the first-born of 
the land, the true God showed himself to be a God not only of power, 
but of judgment, and as such to be feared by the wicked and reverenced 
by all. 

• Succoth signifies "tents" or "booths," and the name therefore only 
appears to denote a place where caravans passing that way usually en- 
camped. This Succoth must not therefore be mistaken for the Succoth 
near the banks of the river Jabbok where Jacob encamped (sect. 55). 



76 EXODUS XIV.-XVL b. c. 1491. 

a path for the fugitives through the obedient waves. The 
presumptuous monarch dared to follow in their track, but 
was checked by the loss of his chariot-wheels ; and when 
the Hebrews had reached the opposite shore in safety, 
the chivalry of Egypt was buried beneath the returning 
waters. The triumph was celebrated by the song of 
Moses, the timbrel of his sister Miriam, and the dances 
of the Israelite women. Ex. xiv. ; xv. 1-21. 

102. Wanderings to Marah, Elim, and Sin; 
Water, Quails, and Manna sent. — Having thus 
crossed the Red Sea, the Israelites entered the wilder- 
ness of Shur, where they wandered three days without 
finding water ; at length, journeying southward, they ob- 
tained a supply at Marah, but on account of its bitter- 
ness reproached Moses, who then healed it by casting in 
a tree. From Marah they proceeded still on a southward 
course to Elim, where there were twelve wells and sev- 
enty palm trees, and from thence they entered the wilder- 
ness of Sin, which lies between Elim and Sinai. At Sin 
their provisions were exhausted, and they again mur- 
mured and regretted the flesh-pots of Egypt, but the 
same evening quails were sent, and the following morn- 
ing God rained bread from heaven and manna began 
to descend. Ex. xv. 22-27 ; xvi. 1-15. 

103. Properties of Manna. — Manna, " the bread of 
heaven" (Heb. manhu, "what is it?"), was found upon 
the ground every morning like hoar-frost or coriander 
seed, and tasted like honey wafers. Every morning each 
man gathered about one omer, or five pints, for the day's 
eating, and on the sixth day two omers, or ten pints ; and 
thus it fed the Hebrews during forty years, and Aaron 
was commanded to lay up an omer of it [five pints] in a 
pot as a lasting memorial. It had five miraculous qual- 
ities : 1. It only fell six days in the week, and not on the 
Sabbath ; 2. A double quantity fell on the sixth day as a 
supply for the Sabbath ; 3. That which was gathered on 
the first five days was putrid if kept more than one day, 
but that which was gathered on the sixth day remained 
sweet for two days ; 4. It sustained nearly three million 
of souls ; 5. It ceased to fall after the Israelites had en- 
tered Canaan. Ex. xvi. 

104. Journey to Hephidim ; Water obtained from 



b. c. 1491. EXODUS XVII., XVIII. 77 

Horeb. — From Sin the Israelites journeyed to Rephidim, 
where they thirsted for water, and again reproached 
Moses and were almost ready to stone him ; but he prayed 
to God, and obtained a miraculous supply by striking his 
rod against the rock in Horeb, which he afterward called 
Massah, or " temptation," and Meribah, or " strife." This 
rock lies to the south of Sinai. Ex. xvii. 1-7. 

105. Joshua defeats tlie Amalekites. — At Rephidim, 
Moses commanded Joshua to choose an army and attack 
Amalek, whilst he himself stood on the hill, attended by 
Aaron and Hur and with the rod of God in his hand. 
Joshua accordingly fought against the Amalekites and 
prevailed whilst Moses held up his hands, but was re- 
pulsed if his hands fell down. Aaron and Hur then 
placed a stone for Moses to sit on, and, standing on each 
side of him, they held up his hands till the sun had set 
and Amalek had been defeated. Moses, in obedience to 
God, recorded the victory in a book and built an altar — 
Jehovah-nissi, or " The Lord my banner." Ex. xvii. 8-16. 

106. Visit of Jethro ; Magistrates appointed. — 
Jethro, or Reuel, the father-in-law of Moses, having heard 
of the wonders God had performed, visited his son-in-law, 
bringing with him Zipporah and her two sons by Moses — 
viz. Gershom and Eliezer. Moses went out to meet Jethro, 
and received him affectionately. Jethro then offered a 
sacrifice to Jehovah, and joined with Moses, Aaron, and 
the elders of Israel in a solemn feast. The next day 
Jethro observed that Moses judged the people from morn- 
ing till evening, and that the duty was too heavy ; he 
therefore advised him to appoint subordinate judges over 
thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens to decide in small 
matters, whilst he himself only settled the more difficult 
causes. Moses followed this counsel, and Jethro then re- 
turned to his own land.* Ex. xviii. 

107. Encampment before Mount Sinai. — In the 
third month from the exodus the Israelites had left Reph- 
idim and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai before 
the mount, which was situated toward the south of the 
peninsula of Arabia Petrsea, which lies between the two 



* For a further account of these magistrates, see "Jewish Constitu- 
tion," sect. 1 33. 

7* 



78 EXODUS XIX., XX. 



b. c. 1491. 



northern arms of the Red Sea. Here the Lord, having 
reminded them through Moses of the deliverance he had 
wrought, called upon them to obey his commands. He 
then spoke to Moses out of a thick cloud, and ordered 
him to direct the people to cleanse themselves and wash 
their clothes, and to be ready on the third day ; and none 
were to touch the mount, either man or beast, on pain of 
death. Ex. xix. 

108. Promulgation of the Moral Latv. — The third 
day was ushered in with thunders and lightnings ; fire and 
smoke enveloped the mount, and the trumpet of the Lord 
summoned the people to the appointed audience, when 
Jehovah came down from Sinai in a thick cloud and pro- 
mulgated the ten commandments to the terrified assem- 
bly. Ex. xx. 1, 18. 

109. The Civil and Ceremonial Law. — The people 
then retired from their fearful proximity to Deity, and 
begged Moses that they might receive the future laws 
from him instead of from Jehovah, swearing to perform 
all that God should command. Moses accordingly as- 
cended the- mount to receive from God a more detailed 
code of civil and ceremonial law. At first he went up 
alone, but he was subsequently partly attended by Aaron 
and his two sons, Nadab and Abihu, and by the seventy 
elders of Israel, who worshipped afar off whilst the laws 
were being written and delivered to Moses by Jehovah on 
two tables of stone, called the Tables of the Law, or Tables 
of the Covenant. They, however, all saw the God of 
Israel with the semblance of paved work of a sapphire 
stone under his feet. Moses also dwelt in the cloud that 
rested on the mount seven days with his servant Joshua, 
whilst the charge of the people was delegated to Aaron 
and Hur ; but on the seventh day Moses alone was called 
into the midst of the cloud, where he stayed for forty 
days and forty nights. Moses also built an altar and 
twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes ; and, offer- 
ing up a sacrifice of peace-offerings of oxen, he sprinkled 
the blood partly on the altar, partly on the book of the 
covenant, and partly on the people, who then pledged 
themselves to obey all the words of Jehovah. Jehovah, 
having given to Moses the two tables, revealed to him 
the idolatry of Israel and his intention to consume them ; 



B. c. 1491. EXODUS XX.-XXXIII. 79 

but Moses interceded for the seed of Abraham, and the 
Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do. Ex. 
xx. 18, 21 ; xxiv. ; xxxi. 18 ; xxxii. 7-14. 

110. Idolatry of Israel tvlth a Golden Calf ; three 
thousand slain.— Meantime, the Hebrews, having grown 
impatient at the absence of their leader, forgetful of their 
recent terrors, and unmindful of their promises of obedi- 
ence, had given their golden earrings to Aaron and pre- 
vailed upon him to make them a molten calf,* which they 
then worshipped as their deliverer from Egypt. Moses, 
having been informed of this idolatry by Jehovah and 
descended the mount with Joshua, heard the noise of 
their worship as he approached the camp, and saw the 
calf and the dancing. His righteous anger was now un- 
controllable. He broke the two tables of stone beneath 
the mount, and burnt the calf, ground it to powder, and, 
mixing its ashes with water, he made the Israelites drink 
it. He reprimanded Aaron, who made the paltry excuse 
that he was forced by the people to make the calf. He 
then called upon the adherents of Jehovah to fall upon 
the idolaters, and the Levites arose and slew three thou- 
sand of their brethren. The following day he admon- 
ished the people of their sin and interceded with God, who 
had smitten the people with plague. The people then 
humbled themselves and stripped off their ornaments, and 
the tabernacle was removed without the camp, when the 
pillar of cloud once more returned, and the Lord, having 
talked familiarly with Moses, favored him with an unveiled 
view of his glory. Ex. xxxii. ; xxxiii. 

111. Renewal of the Tables of Stone, — Moses was 
now commanded to hew fresh tables of stone, upon which 
Jehovah would rewrite his laws. He again abode upon 
Sinai for forty days and forty nights without bread or 
water, and when he returned to the camp his face shone 
so brightly that he was compelled to wear a veil when 
conversing with the Israelites. He then rehearsed to the 
people the commandments he had received, and invited 
them to contribute toward the tabernacle and the priests ; 
and when the sacred building was completed, he conse- 

* This golden calf was no doubt in imitation of the Egyptian Apis. 
See Herodotus, ii. 38. 



80 EXODUS XX.-XL. b. c. 1491. 

crated Aaron and his sons according to divine appoint- 
ment. (See " Consecration of Priests," sect. 166.) Ex. 
xxxiv. ; xxxv. ; xl. 

II. Moral and Civil Law. 

112. First and Second Commandments, against 
Idolaters, False Prophets, Divination, etc, — Who- 
ever sacrificed to any god save Jehovah was to be utterly 
destroyed. Ex. xxii. 20. Whoever gave his seed to Mo- 
loch was to be stoned. Lev. xxi. 1-5. All wizards and 
those who had familiar spirits were to be stoned. Lev. 
xix. 31 ; xx. 6, 27 ; Deut. xviii. 9-14. Prophets and 
dreamers who prophesied in the name of false gods were 
to be stoned, even though their prophecies came to pass, 
together with brothers, sisters, daughters, wives, or friends 
who enticed to idolatry. If a prophet presumptuously 
foretold a thing in the name of the Lord which never 
came to pass, he also was to be stoned. Cities infected 
with idolatry were to be burnt and destroyed. Deut. xiii. ; 
xvii. 2-7. No alliance or covenant was to be made with 
idolaters. Ex. xxiii. 32, 33 ; Deut. vii. All monuments 
of idolatry were to be destroyed (Num. xxxiii. 50-56 ; 
Deut. xii. 1-4), and none were to inquire after other 
gods. Deut. xii. 29-32. 

113. TJiird Commandment, against taking God's 
Name in Vain, Dlasphemy, etc. — Whoever cursed 
God or blasphemed his name was to be stoned. The son 
of Shelomith blasphemed, and was stoned by the congre- 
gation. Lev. xxiv. 10-16, 23; Num. xv. 30, 31. 

114. Fourth Commandment, against breaking the 
Sabbath. — Whoever denied the Sabbath was to be put 
to death. Ex. xxxi. 12-17; xxxv. 1-3. A man gather- 
ing sticks on the Sabbath was stoned by the congregation. 
Num. xv. 32-36. The seventh day was to be kept be- 
cause God rested on the seventh day when he created the 
world. This shows its universal application. 

115. Fifth Commandment, against Disobedience 
to Parents. — Whoever smote or cursed his father or 
mother was to be put to death. Ex. xxi. 15, 17 ; Lev. xx. 
9. A stubborn, drunken, or rebellious son was to be 
stoned. Deut. xxi. 18-21. 



b. c. 1491. EXODUS XX.-XL. 81 

116. Sixth Commandment, against Murder ; Law 
of Manslaughter, etc. — Murder, when it proceeded from 
hatred, revenge, or premeditation, and was proved by 
more than one witness, was to be punished by death with- 
out redemption. In cases of manslaughter where the 
death occurred by accident or mistake the murderer might 
flee to one of the cities of refuge, of which three were 
appointed in Canaan and three east of the Jordan. The 
congregation might also judge between the slayer and the 
revenger of blood ; and if they found the accused guilt- 
less of wilful murder, they might restore him to a city of 
refuge, where, however, he must remain until the death of 
the high priest, for if found without the outskirts the 
revenger might slay him. Ex. xxi. 12-14; Lev. xxiv. 17, 
21 ; Num. xxxv. 9-34 ; Deut.-xix. 1-13. If a man killed 
a thief breaking into his house at night, it was justifiable 
homicide ; but if he killed the thief when the sun was up, 
it was manslaughter, because in the latter case the man 
robbed might have obtained reparation by selling even 
the person of the thief. Ex. xxii. 2, 3. If a man struck 
his slave not of Hebrew descent, and the slave died im- 
mediately, the master was to be punished ; but if the slave 
survived one or two days, the master escaped. Ex. xxi. 
20, 21. If a man was found murdered and the murderer 
was unknown, the elders of the nearest city were to sacri- 
fice a heifer in a valley neither eared nor sown and wash 
their hands over it. I)eut. xxi. 1-9. 

117. Minor Corporal Injuries. — If a man injured 
another in a fray, he was to pay the expenses of his cure 
and recompense him for his loss of time. Ex. xxi. 18, 19. 
If a pregnant woman was hurt in a fray and miscarried, 
her husband could demand compensation, though the 
amount might be referred to arbitrators. Ex. xxi. 22. 
This law of retaliation did not extend to slaves ; but if a 
master knocked out his slave's eye or tooth, the slave re- 
ceived his freedom as compensation. Ex. xxi. 26, 27. If 
an ox killed a man, it was to die ; and if the owner knew 
of its propensity, he was to make compensation, but not 
otherwise. Ex. xxi. 28-32. 

118. Seventh Com mand/men f, aga inst A dultery. — 
In cases of adultery both the man and woman were to be 
put to death. Lev. xx. 10 ; Deut. xxii. 22. If a man 

v 



82 EXODUS XX.-XL. b. c. 1491. 

suspected his wife's virtue, but could find no proof, he was 
to take her to the priest with a jealousy-offering of the 
tenth of an ephah [about five pints] of barley-meal with- 
out oil or frankincense. The priest was then to take the 
jealousy-offering from the woman's hand and burn it upon 
the altar, and afterward to take holy water, and dust from 
the floor of the tabernacle, and mix them together, and 
make the woman drink the mixture, saying that if she 
was guilty the water would make her belly swell and 
thigh rot, and the woman was to. reply " Amen." The 
water would afterward prove her innocence or confirm 
the charge. Num. v. 11-31. If a man defiled a bond- 
maid betrothed to a husband, but unredeemed, they were 
not to be put to death, but she was to be scourged, and he 
was to take a ram for a trespass-offering to the priest, who 
would then make atonement for his crime. Lev. xix. 20-22. 

119. JJnlatvful Marriages. — A man might not marry, 
under pain of death both to him and the woman — 1. His 
father's wife ; 2. His father or mother's daughter or grand- 
daughter ; 3. His son's wife ; 4. A wife and her mother. 
If he married the following he would die childless : 1. 
His father or mother's sister ; 2. His brother's wife ;* 3. 
His uncle's wife. He was also forbidden to marry — 1. A 
wife and her sister whilst the former was alive; 2. A 
heathen woman. Lev. xviii. 6-18 ; xx. 11, 12, 14, 17, 19- 
21 ; Deut. vii. 3. 

120. Divorcements. — If, after marriage, a man was 
dissatisfied with his wife, he might write her a bill of 
divorcement, and each was at liberty to marry again ; but 
if the woman did take a second husband, she could never 
return to her first husband, even after the death of the 
second. Deut. xxiv. 1-4. 

121. Fornication, etc. — If a man debauched an un- 
betrothed maid, he was to marry her ; but if her father 
refused to let them marry, he was to pay her dowry. Ex. 
xxii. 16, 17. In Deuteronomy it is ordered that the man 
marry the woman and pay her father fifty silver shekels 
[22| oz. = £5 13s. 10c/.], and be deprived of all power of 
obtaining a divorce. Deut. xxii. 28, 29. If he debauched 

* If a man's brother died childless, however, he was to marry his 
widow. (See "Other Matrimonial Laws.") 



b. c. 1491. EXODUS XX.-XL. 83 

a betrothed maid in the city, they were both to be stoned, 
because she might have cried out ; if in the field, only the 
man was to be stoned. All unnatural defilement was to 
be punished by death. Ex. xxii. 19 ; Lev. xviii. 22-30 ; 
xx. 13, 15, 16. 

122. Other Matrimonial Laws. — If a man ap- 
proached an unclean woman, they were both to be put to 
death. Lev. xviii. 19; xx. 18. If a man took a female 
captive in battle and desired to marry her, he was first to 
shave her head, pare her nails, and suffer her to bewail 
her parents a full month. After this he might divorce 
her, but could not sell her. Deut. xxi. 10-14. If a man 
impugned his wife's virginity, her parents were to take 
the proofs of it to the elders ; and if the elders were satis- 
fied of her innocence, they were to chastise the man and 
fine him one hundred silver shekels [45^- oz. = £11 7s. 8d.~\ ; 
but if they found her guilty, she was to be stoned. Deut. 
xxii. 13-21. A newly-married man was not to go out to 
war for one year after his marriage. Deut. xxiv. 5. If a 
man's brother died childless, he was to marry the widow, 
and the first-born of this union was to succeed to the de- 
ceased brother and take his name. If a man refused to 
marry the widow, she was to complain to the elders, and 
both she and the man were to be brought before them. 
If the man then refused to take her, she was to take off 
his shoe and spit in his face, and his name was to be called 
" The house of him that hath his shoe loosed." Deut. xxv. 
5-1 0. If, when two men strove together, the wife of one 
immodestly assisted her husband, her hand was to be cut 
off Deut. xxv. 11, 12. 

123. Eighth Commandment, against Stealing. — 
If a man stole an ox and killed or sold it, he was to re- 
store fivefold ; if a sheep, fourfold ; if either were found 
in his possession alive, he was only to restore double. If a 
thief was slain whilst breaking into a house at night, no 
blood was to be shed for him (sect. 116). If a thief had 
nothing with which to make restitution, he was to be sold 
into slavery. Ex. xxii. 1-4. 

124. Arson, Trespass, and Ijandmarlzs. — If a fire 
broke out and consumed either standing corn or stacks, 
whoever kindled it was to make restitution. Ex. xxii. 6. 
If a man put his beast into another man's field or vine- 



84 EXODUS XX.-XL. 



b.c. 1491. 



yard, lie was to make double restitution. Ex. xxii. 5, 9. 
Old landmarks were never to be removed. Deut. xix. 14. 

125. .Men -stealing and Fugitive Servants. — If a 
man stole an Israelite and sold him, he was to be put to 
death. Deut. xxiv. 7. Fugitive servants were not to be 
delivered up or oppressed. Deut. xxiii. 15, 16. (See also 
sect. 132.) 

1 26. Law of Sale. — In the sabbatical year all debts were 
to be remitted save those incurred by foreigners, and in 
the jubilee year all land-possessions were to be restored. 
Deut. xv. 1-3 ; Lev. xxv. 8-24. If a man had been com- 
pelled by poverty to sell his estate, the price of its re- 
demption was to be regulated by the number of years 
before the jubilee year. Lev. xxv. 25-28. If a man sold 
a house in a walled city, he might redeem it within a year 
of the sale ; but after that he could never redeem it, nor 
would it revert to him at the jubilee. The houses in un- 
walled villages and those in Levitical cities might be 
redeemed at any time, and would revert to the original 
possessor in the jubilee. Lev. xxv. 29-34. 

127. Usury, Pledges, and Tilings committed in 
Charge. — If a man borrowed anything of his neighbor 
and it died or was hurt, he was to make it good, unless 
the owner were with it or hire was paid for it. Ex. xxii. 
14, 15. Money might be lent to a stranger upon usury, 
but not to an Israelite. No usury was to be charged to 
a poor man, whether stranger or not. Ex. xxiii. 25 ; Lev. 
xxv. 35-47 ; Deut. xxiii. 19, 20. Any raiment taken as 
pledge was to be returned by sunset. Ex. xxiii. 26, 27. 
If a man received money or stuff to keep for another, 
and it was stolen whilst under his charge, the thief, when 
found, was to pay double. If the thief could not be found, 
the man himself was to be tried by the judges. Ex. xxii. 
7,8. 

128. Law respecting Heirships. — The land of Ca- 
naan was to be divided by lot among the Israelite fam- 
ilies according to their tribes, and each family was to 
keep their inheritance for ever ; for if sold it was to re- 
vert to its original possessors in the jubilee year. Num. 
xxxiii. 50-56. The sons always equally inherited their 
father's possession, except the first-born, who received a 
double portion ; and in no case was the first-born to be 



b. c. 1491. EXODUS XX.-XL. 85 

disinherited — not even if a man had two wives and loved 
one and hated the other, and his first-born was the son of 
the hated wife. Deut. xxi. 15-17. If a man died without 
sons, the possession went to his daughters — a privilege 
first obtained by the daughters of Zelophehad ; only, in 
such cases, the daughters were not to marry out of their 
father's tribe. If a man left neither sons nor daughters, 
his possession went to his brethren ; if he left no breth- 
ren, it went to his father's brethren ; and if his father 
had no brethren, it went to his nearest kinsman. Num. 
xxvi. 52-56 ; xxvii. 1-11 ; xxxvi. 

129. Ninth Commandment, against False Wit- 
nessing. — Whoever concealed his knowledge of a sin 
was to bear the iniquity of the sinner. Lev. v. 1. Two 
or more witnesses were required to establish a criminal 
accusation. Deut. xvii. 6. 

130. Tenth Commandment, against Covetousness. 
— No one was to desire anything belonging to his neigh- 
bor. Ex. xx. 17. No money was to be lent to the poor 
on usury. Ex. xxii. 25. No unjust weights or balances 
were to be used. Lev. xix. 35, 36. 

131. Miscellaneous Precepts. — A kid was not to be 
seethed in its mother's milk. Ex. xxiii. 19. The stranger 
was not to be oppressed. Ex. xxiii. 9. Fat or blood, or 
unclean beasts, birds, or fish, or beasts that had died a 
natural death, might not be eaten. Lev. iii. 17 ; xii. ; 
Deut. xiv. Gleanings were to be left to the poor and 
the stranger. Wages due were not to be kept till morn- 
ing. Talebearers were denounced. Cattle of different 
species were to be kept distinct, and mingled seeds were 
not to be sown in a garden. Lev. xix. ; Deut. xxii. 9. 
Israelites were not to cut themselves or shave their heads 
for the dead. Deut. xiv. 1, 2. Strayed or fallen cattle 
were always to be assisted. Neither men nor women 
were to wear each other's apparel. In taking nests, the 
dam was never to be taken with the young. Battle- 
ments were to be built to the roofs of houses. Deut. xxii. 
A neighbor's grapes or standing corn might be gathered 
and eaten, but not carried away. Deut. xxiii. 24, 25. Con- 
troversies were to be referred to arbitrators. Oxen were 
not to be muzzled when treading out corn. Deut. xxv. 

132. Law respecting Slavery. — Men became slaves 

8 



86 EXODUS XX.-XL. 



b. c. 1491. 



by the following means — viz. 1. Captivity in war; 2. 
Debts, when the debtor was unable to pay them; 3. 
Theft, when a thief could not make reparation ; 4. Man- 
stealing, an act of violence which was to be punished by 
death ; 5. Birth, when a slave had children ; 6. Pur- 
chase, when a man sold himself or was purchased from 
another master. The medium price of a slave was about 
thirty silver shekels [about 13J oz. = £3 8s. 3c/.]. Ex. 
xxi. 16, 32; xxii. 2; Lev. xxvii. 1-8; Deut. xx. 14; xxi. 
10, 11 ; xxiv. 7; 2 Kings iv. 1. Moses instituted the fol- 
lowing laws concerning slaves — viz. I. That all servants 
or slaves should be treated with humanity, especially He- 
brews (Lev. xxv. 39-53) ; II. If a master slew a slave, he 
was to be judged accordingly and punished ; but if the 
slave lived a day or two after being smitten, the master 
was unpunished (Ex. xxi. 20, 21) ; III. If a master in- 
jured the eye or tooth of his slave, the latter was to be 
freed (Ex. xxi. 26, 27) ; IV. Slaves were to rest on Sab- 
baths and festivals (Ex. xx. 10; Deut. v. 14); V. Slaves 
were to be invited to feasts made from the second tithes 
(Deut. xii. 17, 18; xvi. 11); VI. Slaves were to receive 
an adequate subsistence (Deut. xxv. 4) ; VII. A master 
was bound to provide for the marriage of maid-servants, 
unless he took them as concubines for himself or gave 
them to his son (Ex. xxi. 8) ; VIII. Hebrew slaves were 
not obliged to serve for more than six years ; but if one 
wished to continue to serve, he had his ear bored at his 
master's doorpost in sign of perpetual servitude (Ex. xxi.) ; 
IX. In the year of jubilee all servants or slaves of Hebrew 
descent were to be emancipated (Lev. xxv. 39-41) ; X. 
A runaway slave from another nation was to be treated 
with kindness, and not forcibly returned. Deut. xxiii. 
15, 16. 

§ Jewish Constitution* 

133. Composition of the Jewish State. — In the old 

patriarchal form of government which was maintained 

* To this section but a few of the leading Scripture references have 
been given, as otherwise the page would be overloaded with references 
to isolated passages in various parts of the Old Testament, to which few 
readers would think it necessary to turn. Those biblical students who 
may be desirous of examining all the authorities are referred to the 
learned works of Jahn and Michaelis. 



B. c. 1491. EXODUS XX.-XL. 87 

by the Hebrews during their sojourn in Egypt, every 
father exercised a father's authority over his own house- 
hold, and every tribe obeyed its own prince, who was 
originally the first-born of the founder of the tribe, but 
subsequently appears to have been elected. As the peo- 
ple increased various heads of families united together 
and elected a leader, who was sometimes called the head 
of a thousand. The princes also, whose duty it had been 
originally to keep genealogical tables, subsequently em- 
ployed scribes for that purpose, who in progress of time 
acquired so much authority as to be permitted to exer- 
cise a share in the government. We have thus, 

1st. The heads of families, or elders. 

2d. The princes of the tribes. 

3d. The heads of associated families, or of thousands. 

4th. The genealogists, translated " officers." All of 
them, however, were sometimes designated as "el- 
ders." 

Under the Mosaic economy the authority of these heads 
and princes continued the same as before, with the addi- 
tion of the judges of tens, of fifties, of hundreds, and of 
thousands. 

These judges were elected by the suffrages of the peo- 
ple from those who, by their authority and rank, might 
be reckoned amongst the rulers or princes of Israel ; and 
they did not forfeit their civil authority by accepting this 
judicial office. The judges of smaller numbers were sub- 
ordinate to those who judged larger numbers, and accord- 
ingly difficult cases went up from the inferior to the supe- 
rior judges ; and the very difficult causes were submitted 
to Moses himself, or to the supreme ruler of the common- 
wealth, and in the time of the monarchy to the king him- 
self; and sometimes a further appeal was made to the 
high priest. Ex. xviii. 13-26; Num. i. ; v. 46; Deut. i. 
13-18. 

134. The Comitia, or Legislative Assemblies. — The 
various civil and judicial officers mentioned in the fore- 
going section were necessarily dispersed throughout the 
country. Those who* dwelt in the same city or the same 
neighborhood formed the comitia, senate, or legislative as- 
sembly of their immediate vicinity ; when all that dwelt in 
any particular tribe were convened, they formed the legis- 



88 EXODUS XX.-XL. b. c. 1491, 

lative assembly of the tribe; and when they were convened 
in one body from all the tribes, they formed, in like man- 
ner, the legislative assembly of the nation, and were the 
representatives of the whole people. The priests, who 
were the learned class of the community and hereditary 
officers in the state, had, by the divine command, a right 
to a sitting in this assembly. The elders, princes, geneal- 
ogists, and judges, in their collective capacity, were called 
the " elders of the assembly " or " of the people," the 
" princes of the assembly," or " congregation," the " whole 
assembly," etc. Sometimes an assembly included the 
whole mass of the people. Deut. ix. 12 ; xxv. 8, 9 ; Judg. 
i. 1-11 ; viii. 14 ; ix. 3-46 ; xi. 5 ; 1 Sam. viii. 4 ; xvi. 4. 

135. Method and Place of convening the Comitia. 
— The comitia were convened by the judge or ruler for 
the time being, and, in case of his absence, by the high 
priest. The members appear to have met at the door of 
the tabernacle, though sometimes some other celebrated 
spot was selected. During the sojourn in the wilderness 
the comitia were summoned by the blowing of the holy 
trumpets, one trumpet being the signal for a more select 
convention, composed merely of the heads of associated 
families and of the princes of the tribes ; whilst the blow- 
ing of two trumpets convened the great assembly, which, 
in addition to the heads of associated families and princes 
of the tribes, included the elders, judges, and genealogists. 
After the settlement in Palestine the comitia were assem- 
bled by messengers. Num. x. 2-4. 

136. JPowers of the Comitia. — The comitia, or as- 
sembly, exercised the rights of sovereignty. It declared 
war, concluded peace, and ratified treaties, and it chose 
the civil rulers, generals, and eventually kings. The oath 
of office was administered to its members by the judge or 
the king, and the latter in turn received their oath from 
the comitia, acting in the name of the people. The co- 
mitia acted on their own authority and according to their 
own views, without instructions from the body of the 
nation ; but, though no single instance occurs in which 
the latter sought to interfere in the deliberations of the 
assembly, yet the assembly were in the habit of proposing 
their decisions and resolutions to the people for their 
ratification and consent. When Jehovah was chosen as 



b. c. 1491. EXODUS XX.-XL. 89 

the special King of the Hebrews, it was not done by the 
comitia, but by the people themselves, all of whom, as 
well as their rulers, took the oath of obedience. Ex. xxiv. 
3-8 ; Deut. xxix. 9-14. 

137. Connection of the Tribes with each other. — 
Each tribe was governed by its own prince and heads of 
families, etc., and therefore, to a certain extent, consti- 
tuted an independent community. Judg. xx. 11-46. If, 
however, any one tribe found itself unequal to the execu- 
tion of any proposed plan, it might connect itself with 
another, or even a number of the other tribes ; and if any 
affair concerned the whole or many of the tribes, it was 
determined by them in conjunction in the legislative as- 
sembly of the nation. But still, all the tribes were bound 
together so as to form one Church and one civil commun- 
ity — not only by the common promises vouchsafed by Je- 
hovah to their common ancestors, not only by the need in 
which they stood of mutual counsel and assistance, but 
also by the circumstance that God was their common 
King, and that they had a common tabernacle for his 
palace, and a common sacerdotal and Levitical order for 
his ministers. Judg. xi. 1-11 ; i. 1-3, 22. 

138. The Tribunal of Seventy instituted by Moses. 
— The tribunal of seventy elders instituted by Moses 
(sect. 219) seems to have been merely intended for a 
supreme senate, to take a share with Moses in the govern- 
ment, and was not probably of long continuance. Fre- 
quent mention is made in the New Testament of a Sanhe- 
drim, which appears to have been instituted at Jerusalem 
after the return from the Babylonian captivity, for from 
the death of Moses until this latter period we do not find 
the least mention of this council or tribunal. 

III. The Ceremonial Law* 
1. The Tabernacle. 

139. External Description. — The Israelites made 
voluntary offerings for the building of the tabernacle and 
its appurtenances so liberally that Moses was obliged to 

* The Jewish ceremonial law was divided into six branches — viz. 1. 
The Tabernacle ; 2. The Priests, Levites, and Nethinim; 3. Offer- 



90 EXODUS XX.-XL. 



B.C. 1491. 



restrain them. The tabernacle was built by two inspired 
architects — Bezaleel the son of Uri, of the tribe of Judah, 
and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 
It was 30 cubits [18 yards 8 inches] long, 10 cubits [6 
yards 2 inches] broad, and 10 cubits [6 yards 2 inches] 
high. The two sides and western end were made of 
shittim- [acacia] wood boards, overlaid with gold. Each 
of these boards was 10 cubits [6 yards 2 inches] long 
and 1^- cubits [2 feet 8 inches] broad ; and they were fixed 
upright in silver sockets, and secured by shittim-wood 
bars overlaid with gold, which passed through golden 
rings on the boards. The eastern end was the entrance, 
and, instead of boards, was enclosed with a richly-em- 
broidered hanging suspended by golden hooks from five 
pillars of shittim-wood, which stood in five brazen sockets. 
Four veils or coverings were cast over the whole building : 
1. The innermost one, which formed a ceiling, and con- 
sisted of fine linen embroidered with cherubim and shaded 
with blue, purple, and scarlet ; 2. A covering of goats' 
hair ; 3. Rams' skins dyed red ; 4. The outermost one of 
dyed badger skins. Ex. xxvi. ; xxxi. 1-11 ; xxxv. 4-35; 
xxxvi. 

140. The Holy and the Most Holy Place. — The 
tabernacle was divided into two apartments, the Holy 
and the Most Holy Place, by means of a rich hanging 
like the one at the entrance, stretched upon four pillars of 
shittim-wood overlaid with gold, and standing in silver 
sockets. Ex. xxvi. 31-37. 

141. Furniture of the Holy Place. — 1st. The Altar 
of Incense, which was placed in the centre of the Holy 
Place. It was made with shittim-wood overlaid with 
gold, with horns of the same material, and was 1 cubit 
[1 foot 9 inches] square and 2 cubits [3 feet 7 inches] 
high. The crown or ornamental cornice was of gold, with 
four golden rings underneath it to receive the staves of 
shittim-wood overlaid with gold by which the altar was 
carried. Incense was burnt on this altar both morning 
and evening. It was also sprinkled with the blood of the 

ings, including sacrifices, oblations, and meat- and drink-offerings; 
4. Feasts and Festivals ; 5. Vows ; 6. Purifications. Of these, the 
first only is to be found in Exodus: the remaining five are contained 
in Leviticus. 



B. c. 1491. 



EXODUS XX.-XL. 



91 



JUDAH. 



ISSACHAR. 



ZEBULTJN. 



Moses, Aaron, and the Friests. 

100 Cubits long, and 50 Cubits broad. 



COURT. 

10 CUBITS SQUARE. 



ARK. 

Containing 
Two Tables of the Law 
Aaron's Rod. 
Pot of Mauna. 



HOLT OF HOLIES 



CANDLESTICK. 







a s 




^< > 


<- „•' 


oa =3 


OS 

h a 




wg^ 


oi a> 










w> > 


<~ 




Ssl 










Uj^ 



HOLT PLACE. 



Altar of Burnt-Offering 



> 5*. 



Gershomites. 
Their charge — Curtains, Cloths, etc. 












BENJAMIN. 



MANASSEH. 



EPHRAIM. 



THE TABERNACLE, AND ORDER OF THE ENCAMPMENTS OF 
THE SEVERAL TRIBES. 



92 EXODUS XX.-XL. b. c. 1491. 

sacrifices that were offered for the sins of ignorance. Ex. 
xxx. 1-10 ; xxxvii. 25-29. 

142. 2d, The Shew-bread Table, which stood north 
of the altar of incense — that is, on the right hand of the 
priest as he entered. It was made, like the altar, of 
shittim-wood overlaid with gold. It was 2 cubits [3 feet 
7 inches] long, 1 cubit [1 foot 9 inches] broad, and 1^- 
cubits [2 feet 8 inches] high, and had a crown or orna- 
mental cornice of gold, with a border or second crown 
above it. It also had four golden rings and staves of 
shittim-wood and gold, like the altar of incense. Shew- 
bread was always kept upon this table, twelve fresh 
loaves of which (one lor each tribe) were offered every 
Sabbath, the priests alone eating the removed bread. 
Dishes, spoons, covers, and bowls were made for the table 
of pure gold. Ex. xxv. 23-30; xxxvii. 10-16. 

143. 3d. The Candlestick, which stood south, or on 
the left of the altar of incense. It was made of beaten 
gold, and weighed one talent, or about one hundredweight 

= £5464. It had six branches, three on each side, and 
three bowls like almonds, with a knop and a flower in 
each branch. It also had seven lamps, which were kept 
burning with pure olive oil both morning and evening, 
with tongs and snuff-dishes all of pure gold. Ex. xxv. 31— 
40; xxxvii. 17-24. 

144. Furniture of the Most Holy Place, or "Holy 
of Holies." — 1st. The Ark. — The ark was made of 
shittim-wood overlaid with gold. It was 2J cubits [4-|- 
feet] long, 1^ cubits [2 feet 8 inches] broad, and 1 J cu- 
bits [2 feet 8 inches] high. It had an ornamental cornice 
of gold round the top, with four golden rings to receive 
the staves of shittim-wood and gold by which it was car- 
ried. The ark contained — 1. The testimony or tables of 
the covenant ; 2. A golden pot with an omer of manna ; 
3. Aaron's rod that budded. In the side of the ark was 
a place where Moses enjoined that a copy of the law 
should be kept.* Ex. xxv. 10-16 ; xxxvii. 1-5 ; Heb. 
ix. 4. 

* Subsequent History of the Ark. — It led the Israelites, under Joshua, 
across the Jordan on dry land (Josh, iv.), and subsequently the walls 
of Jericho fell down after it had been carried round them once a day 
for six days, and seven times on the seventh. Josh. vi. On entering 



b. c. 1491. EXODUS XX.-XL. 93 

145. 2d. TJie Mercy-seat, which was a golden cover- 
ing for the ark, was so called because God was propitiated 
by the blood of the goat sprinkled upon or before it on 
the day of atonement. Ex. xxv. 17 ; xxxvii. 6. 

146. 3d. The Cherubim, or two figures of beaten 
gold. Each of these figures had four faces — viz. that of a 
lion, man, calf, and eagle, attached to a human body with 
four wings, and four hands under the wings, and standing 
on feet like those of a calf or ox. Two of the wings of 
each cherub covered its body, whilst the other two were 
stretched above the mercy-seat. Jehovah promised to 
commune with his people from between the .cherubim, 
and there dwelt the miraculous light of Shechinah. Ex. 
xxv. 18-22 ; xxxvii. 7-9. 

147. The Shechinah. — This miraculous light rested 
like a cloud between the cherubim, and was a visible 
token of the presence of God in his holy temple. It had 
led the Israelites through the wilderness like a pillar of 
cloud by day and of fire by night. It appeared to the 
shepherds at our Saviour's birth, to Paul at his conver- 
sion, and to the disciples at Christ's transfiguration. 

148. Court of the Tabernacle. — The tabernacle could 
be taken to pieces and put together again as occasion re- 
quired. It was carried by the Levites and pitched in the 

Canaan it was first set up in Shiloh, but many years afterward, when 
the Israelites were oppressed by the Philistines during the judgeships 
of Eli's sons, it was carried into the Hebrew camp, and fell into the 
hands of the enemy. The Philistines were so afflicted whilst it was in 
their possession that they passed it to Ashdod — where the god Dagon 
fell before it — to Gath, to Ekron, and from thence to Beth-shemesh, 
where the people were struck dead for looking into it. From this 
place the Israelites carried it to the house of Abinadab at Kirjath-jearim, 
after having been deprived of it for seven months. 1 Sam. iv. 11; vii. 
1. In the reign of Saul it was at Nob, and afterward at Kirjath- 
jearim again, whence David carried it in a new cart, first to the 
house of Obed-edom, because Uzzah was struck dead for touching it 
on the journey, and afterward to his own house at Jerusalem. 2 Sam. 
vi. 10-15. When David fled from Absalom he took it with him, but 
sent it back again to Jerusalem, and at last it was deposited by Solo- 
mon in the temple. 2 Sam. xv. 24-29; 2 Chron. v. 2-5. Here it re- 
mained until the temple was profaned by the idolatry of Judah. when 
the priests carried it from place to place to preserve it from pollution. 
Josiah afterward ordered it to be replaced, but what became of it sub- 
sequently is unknown ; it was lost during the destruction of the temple 
by Nebuchadnezzar, and was wanting in the second temple. 2 Chron. 
xxxv. 3. 



94 EXODUS XX.-XL. b. c. 1490. 

midst of every encampment, the tribes being stationed 
round it in a quadrangular form under their respective 
standards. It was always stationed in an open oblong 
space 100 cubits [182 feet 4 inches] long and 50 cubits 
[91 feet 2 inches] broad, due east and west, and sur- 
rounded by brazen pillars filleted or fluted with silver, 
and 5 cubits [3 yards 1 inch] high and at 5 cubits' [3 yards 
1 inch] distance from each other. These pillars were 
hung with fine twined linen yarn, except at the entrance 
on the eastern end, which was of blue, purple, scarlet, 
and fine white twined linen, with cords to draw it either 
up or aside when the priests entered the court. Ex. 
xxvii. 9-21 ; xxxviii. 9-20. 

149. Furniture of the Court, — 1st, T7ie Altar of 
Burnt-offerings, — The altar was placed in a line be- 
tween the entrance of the court and that of the taber- 
nacle, and was 5 cubits [3 yards 1 inch] long, 5 cubits 
broad, and 3 cubits [5 feet 5 inches] high. It was hollow, 
and made of shittim-wood boards overlaid with brass, 
and had a horn at each corner. All the pans, basins, 
shovels, flesh-hooks, and vessels belonging to it were 
made of brass, and it was surmounted by a brazen grate 
or network, on which the victims were consumed. It also 
had four brazen rings to receive staves of shittim-wood 
overlaid with brass, by which it was carried. The first 
sacrifice upon this altar was consumed by fire from heav- 
en, which was never afterward suffered to go out. Ex. 
xxvii. 1-8 ; xxxviii. 1-7 ; Lev. vi. 13 ; ix. 24. 

150. 2d, TJie Laver, — The laver was placed between 
the altar of burnt-offering and the entrance of the taber- 
nacle. It was made of brass, and had a foot, also of brass, 
and held water, in which Aaron and his sons were to 
wash their hands and feet whenever they entered the 
tabernacle or approached the altar. Ex. xxxviii. 8. 



151. Completion of the Tabernacte, 1490. — On the 

first day of the first month of the second year of the ex- 
ode from Egypt — viz. b. c. 1490 — the tabernacle was 
completed, and " a cloud covered the tent of the congre- 



b. c. 1490. LEVITICUS. 95 

gation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle." 
Ex. xl. 

152. Typical Intimations of the Messiah in Ex- 
odus, — In this book the Messiah was typified in — I. 
Aaron : " Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, 
that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God " 
(Heb. iv. 14); II. The Paschal Lamb: "For even 
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us " (1 Cor. v. 7) ; 
III. Manna : " And did all eat the same spiritual meat " 
(1 Cor. x. 3) ; IV. Rock in Horeb : " And did all drink 
the same spiritual drink : for they drank of that spiritual 
Rock that followed them : and that Rock was Christ " ( 1 
Cor. x. 4) ; V. The Mercy-seat : " Whom (Jesus Christ) 
God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in 
his blood." Rom. iii. 25. 



LEVITICUS. 

(AeviriKov — Levitical Priesthood and Sacrifices.) 

HISTORY OF THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD, SACRIFICES, AND ORDINANCES, B. 0. 
1490.-ABOUT A MONTH— VIZ. FROM THE BUILDING OF THE TABERNACLE TO 
THE NUMBERING OF THE PEOPLE.* 



ANALYSIS. 

[Ceremonial Law, continued from Exodus.] 

2. Priests, Levites, and Nethinim, — Classification. — 
I. Priests — their duties and requirements ; sacerdotal dress ; 
sources of livelihood. — II. High Priest — his office; his typical 
character; his robes — viz. 1st. The epliod ; 2d. The coat or robe of 
the ephod ; 3d. The breastplate of judgment (Urim and Thummim); 
and 4th. The mitre or crown. — III. The Levites — their duties, 
livelihood, and consecration. — IV. The Nethinim — Consecration 
of Aaron and his sons page 96. 

3, Sacrifices, Oblations, and Meat' and Drink- 
Offerinas. — General Classification of Jewish Sacrifices and Offer- 
ings.— 1. Sacrifices or Offerings of Blood, Jour classes of— 

* Ex. xl. 2; Num. i. 1. 



96 LEVITICUS. 



B. c. 1490. 



viz. 1st. Burnt-offerings ; 2d. Peace-offerings ; 3d. Sin-offerings ; 
4th. Trespass-offerings; typical character of the sacrifices. — II. 
Oblations, or Unbloody Offerings, three classes of— viz. 1st. 
Ordinary oblations (shew-bread and incense) ; 2d. Free oblations 
(fruits of promises or vows); 3d. Prescribed oblations (first-fruits, 
firstlings, and tithes). — Meat-offerings. — Drink-offerings. — ^National 
sacrifices . page 100. 

4. Annual Feasts and Festivals ; Sabbatical Year 
and Jubilee. — Classification of Annual Festivals instituted by 
Moses — viz. 1. The Feast of Passover, or Unleavened Bread ; 2. 
Feast of Pentecost, or of Weeks, Harvest, or First-fruits; 3. Feast 
of Tabernacles ; 4. Feast of Trumpets ; and 5. Feast or Fast of Ex- 
piation, or Great Day of Atonement. — [Later Feasts — Purim, Ded- 
ication, etc.] — The Sabbatical year. — The Jubilee. — Typical charac- 
ter of the feasts and festivals, and the Jubilee page 107. 

5, Vows. — Nature of vows. — How far valid. — Classification: 
1. Vows of dedication ; 2. Vows of interdiction and Kazaritism. — 
The cherem or anathema. . . . " page 113. 

(>. Purifications. — Nature and Classification of Purifications. 
— Materials for purifying. — 1. Purification as a Religious 
Ceremonial. — II. Purification from Personal Unclean- 
ness. — III. Purification from Leprosy. — Classification — viz. 1. 
Leprosy in Man: character and symptoms; laws for distinguish- 
ing it ; purification from it. — 2. Leprosy in Houses.— 3. Leprosy 
in Clothes page 116. 

\ Typical intimations in Leviticus. page 119. 



SUMMARY. 

[Ceremonial Law, continued from Exodus.] 

2. Priests, Levites, and Nethinim. 

153. Classification. — The tribe of Levi were exclu- 
sively devoted to the service of the temple, under the 
name of Levites, but of these only the males of the 
family of Aaron were permitted to sacrifice at the altar 
of burnt-offering, under the name of Priests, and of them 
the High Priest alone was permitted to enter the Holy 
of Plolies or Most Holy Place. In addition to the priests, 
high priest, and Levites was a class of inferior assistants, 
including Gibeonites and captives ; these were called 
Ketpiinim. 



B. c. 1490. 



LEVITICUS. 97 



154. The Priests: their Duties and Requirements. 

— The priests were chosen from the family of Aaron ex- 
clusively. They served immediately at the altar, pre- 
pared the victims, and offered the sacrifices. They also 
kept up a perpetual fire on the altar of burnt-offerings and 
in the golden candlestick ; prepared, brought, and re- 
moved the shew-bread ; offered up prayers for the people ; 
judged of leprosy, the causes of divorce, the waters of 
jealousy, vows, un cleanness, etc. ; carried the ark in war, 
sounded the trumpets, and animated the army ; were con- 
sulted as interpreters of the law, and publicly blessed the 
people in the name of the Lord. Every priest was re- 
quired to establish his descent, and none were permitted 
to marry a harlot or a profane woman, or one who had 
been divorced. Bodily defects, blemishes, leprosy, or un- 
cleanness would exclude any priest from sacrificing at the 
altar or entering the tabernacle, and no one might make 
his head bald, nor shave off the corner of his beard, nor 
cut his flesh ; nor might he defile himself by mourning 
for any of his relations, save for his father, mother, son, 
daughter, brother, or virgin sister. Lev. xxi. ; xxii. ; 
Num. iii. 

155. Sacerdotal Dress. — The priests were not dis- 
tinguished by sacerdotal habits excepting whilst they were 
officiating, when they wore linen drawers, tunic, and gir- 
dle ; also a tiara shaped like the mitre or crown (sect. 
163), worn by the high priest, but not so ornamented, and 
without the golden plate. Ex. xxviii. ; Lev. viii. 

156. Sources of their Livelihood. — Besides the thir- 
teen cities and the tithe which they derived from the Le- 
vites (sect. 164), they received the following things, which 
were to be dedicated to God (sect. 181-183) — viz. 1. The 
first-fruits of the wheat, oil, and wine. 2. The first fleece 
of the sheep. 3. The price paid for the redemption of the 
first-born of men and impure animals. 4. The first-born 
of sheep, cows, and goats, whose blood and fat were sacri- 
ficed on the altar, and the remainder given to them. 5. 
The right shoulder and breast of peace-offerings. 6. All 
the sin-offerings, except the fat which covered certain 
parts of the victim, and which was burnt on the altar, 
and excepting in the cases of sin-offerings made for a 
priest himself or for the congregation. 7. The skin or 

9 G 



yo LEVITICUS. b. c. 1490. 

fleece of burnt-offerings. 8. The shoulder, cheeks, and 
maw of the oxen and sheep killed by the Israelites for 
their own use. 9. The first-fruits of trees — that is, those 
of the fourth year. 10. A share in the spoils of war. 
Lev. vii. ; xix. ; Num. xviii. ; xxxi. ; Deut. xviii. 3.* 

157. Tlie High Priest: his Office. — The high priest 
was placed over the other priests, and alone could enter 
the Most Holy Place — once a year, on the day of atone- 
ment. He was also the final judge in all controversies, 
and the chief man in Israel, and in later times presided 
over the Sanhedrim. He held his office until incapaci- 
tated by age or polluted by crime. Lev. xvi. 

158. His Typical Character. — The high priest was an 
eminent type of our spiritual High Priest, Jesus Christ: " See- 
ing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed 
into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God," Heb. iv. 14. 

159. His Robes. — Besides the dress which was com- 
mon to himself and the inferior priests, he wore four pecu- 
liar garments. 

160. 1st. The Ephod, a kind of vest fastened to the 
shoulders, the hinder part reaching to the heels, whilst 
the fore part descended only a little below the waist. It 
was of fine twisted linen, splendidly wrought with gold 
and purple, and was fastened to the shoulders by two 
straps of similar material, to which were affixed the breast- 
plate of judgment. 

161. 2d. The Coat or Robe of the Ephod, which 
was made of blue wool bound round with woven work 
to prevent its rending. Seventy-two golden bells were 
fastened upon the hem, with an artificial pomegranate of 
blue, purple, or scarlet between each. Whilst these pome- 
granates beautified the robe, the sound of the seventy-two 
bells informed the congregation of the high priest's en- 
trance into the Most Holy Place to burn incense, so that 
the prayers of the people and the incense from the altar 
might ascend together as a fragrant odor before God. 



* The priests afterward became so numerous that King David divided 
them into twenty-four classes, which were each to serve a week in rota- 
tion. 1 Chron. xxiv. After the captivity, only four of these classes 
returned, but they were again divided into twenty-four, each of which 
class or course had a chief or head, which are supposed to be the chief 
priests of the New Testament. 



B. C. 1490. LEVITICUS. 99 

162. 3d. The Breastplate of Judgment, or oracle, 
was a piece of cloth doubled, one span [about 11 inches] 
square, and of similar workmanship and materials with 
the ephod. On it were set twelve precious stones, contain- 
ing the engraved names of the twelve sons of Jacob and 
the words Urim and Thummim. [The real nature of the 
Urim and Thummim is unknown ; but when the high 
priest went to ask counsel of Jehovah, he presented him- 
self arrayed in this breastplate and received the divine 
commands.] 

163. 4th. TJie Mitre or Crotvn, on the front of which 
was tied, by a blue ribbon, a plate of pure gold, on which 
was engraven " Holiness unto the Lord." The high priest 
alone entered the Most Holy Place on the day of atone- 
ment. Ex. xxviii. ; Lev. xvi. 

164. TJie Levites, their Duties, Uvelihood, and 
Consecration. — The Levites were divided into three 
families, called after the three sons of Levi — viz. Ger- 
bhomites, Kohathites, and Merarites. Their office 
was to wait upon the priests, to carry the tabernacle and 
its furniture from place to place, and to cleanse the sacred 
vessels, take charge of the sacred loaves, and sing psalms 
and perform on musical instruments. They were sup- 
ported by a tenth of the corn, fruit, and cattle belonging 
to the other eleven tribes, and on their entering Canaan, 
instead of a portion of the territory, forty-eight cities were 
assigned them, with the suburbs, extending to three thou- 
sand cubits beyond the city wall. The Levites were, how- 
ever, obliged to give a tenth of this tithe for the support 
of the priests of the family of Aaron, together with thir- 
teen of their cities. Six of these, cities were also made 
cities of refuge. They were to serve in the tabernacle 
from their thirtieth to their fiftieth year, though afterward 
they commenced serving at twenty. 1 Chron. xxiii. 24. 
They were consecrated by shaving their bodies, washing 
their clothes, and being sprinkled with water, and then 
by taking two young bullocks to Aaron, with the necessary 
appendages, one to be offered as a burnt-offering, and the 
other as a sin-offering. Num. iii. ; iv. ; viii. ; xviii. 

165. The Nethinim. — Besides the Levites, there were 
subsequently an inferior class of persons, who performed 
the more servile offices of the tabernacle, such as carrying 



100 LEVITICUS. b. c. 1490. 

wood and water, and these were called Nethinim. The 
Gibeonites (sect. 258) were the first of this class of assist- 
ants, but it was afterward increased by the addition of 
captives taken in war. Josh. ix. 21-27 ; 2 Chron. ii. 17 ; 
Ezra viii. 20. 

166. Consecration of Aaron and his Sons. — Aaron 
and his family were originally invested with the priest- 
hood by Moses, who was appointed by Jehovah to offi- 
ciate at their consecration, and directed to perform the 
following ceremonies : Moses first washed Aaron and his 
sons with water, arrayed them in their pontifical vest- 
ments, and anointed Aaron with the holy oil ; he then 
offered three sacrifices : 

1st. A sin-offering, as a kind of expiation by which 
they were to be purified. (See "Sacrifices," sect. 171.) 

2d. A burnt-offering, as a gift or present to recommend 
them to the Lord. 

3c/. A peace-offering, as a sacred feast by which they 
were introduced into the family of God, for even the 
offerers were permitted to eat of their own peace-offerings. 

After this original consecration of the sons of Aaron 
no subsequent consecration was required for their de- 
scendants and successors in the priesthood. But in the 
high priesthood the case was different, for every fresh high 
priest after Aaron was anointed and arrayed in the pon- 
tifical robes for the same number of days as Aaron him- 
self had been. [After the consumption of the sacred oil 
made by Moses, which the Jews affirm was never made 
again, an investment with the pontifical robes was deem- 
ed a sufficient consecration.] Ex. xxix. ; Lev. viii. 

3. Sacrifices, Oblations, and Meat- and Drink- 
offerings. 

167. Jewish Offerings classified. — Jewish offerings 
were of two kinds : I. Sacrifices, or offerings of blood ; 
II. Oblations, or unbloody offerings. A sacrifice was 
an entire change or destruction of the thing offered ; an 
oblation was a simple offering pr gift. 

I. Sacrifices, or blood-offerings, were of four classes — 
viz. 1. Burnt-offerings; 2. Peace-offerings; 3. Sin-offer- 
ings; 4. Trespass-offerings. 



B. c. 1490. LEVITICUS. 101 

II. Oblations, or unbloody offerings, were of three 
classes — viz. 1. Ordinary oblations, including shew-bread 
and incense ; 2. Free oblations, including the fruits of 
promises or vows ; 3. Prescribed oblations, including first- 
fruits, firstlings, and tithes. 

In addition to these sacrifices and oblations were meat- 
offerings and drink-offerings, which were the frequent ac- 
companiment of both bloody and unbloody offerings. 

1. Sacrifices. 

168. Selection of Victims, — Only five species of ani- 
mals might be sacrificed — viz. bullocks, sheep, goats, tur- 
tle-doves, and young pigeons, the two latter to be offered 
when the circumstances of the offerer would not enable 
him to furnish either of the three former. The victim 
was to be without spot or blemish, not less than eight days 
old, and yet not too aged, and it was not to be procured 
by the price of a dog or by that of whoredom. In sacri- 
ficing birds no particular sex was required, but in cattle 
it depended on the nature of the sacrifice or circum- 
stances of the offerer. The peace-offerings of individuals 
were both males and females ; the sin-offering of an indi- 
vidual was to be a female lamb or kid ; but all victims 
of every class of sacrifice offered for the whole congrega- 
tion, and all burnt-offerings, sin-offerings, and trespass- 
offerings for a ruler or high priest, were to be males. Lev. 
xxii. ; Deut. xxiii. 18. 

169. 1st. Burnt-offerings. — These were freewill-of- 
ferings, wholly devoted to God, except the skin, which 
alone was taken by the priests. The offerer was himself 
to lead one of either of the above five species of animals 
to the court of the tabernacle (afterward to the court of 
the temple), and, laying his hands upon its head, he was 
to repeat a prayer. If several persons united in offering 
the victim, they were to lay their hands upon it in succes- 
sion.* The priest then was to take the animal, cut its 

• " By this imposition of hands the person presenting the victim ac- 
knowledged the sacrifice to be his own; that he loaded it with his in- 
iquities; that he offered it as an atonement for his sins; that he was 
worthy of death because he had sinned, having forfeited bis life by 
violating the law of God ; and that he entreated God to accept the life 
of the innocent animal in the place of his own." — Home. 

9* 



102 LEVITICUS. 



b. c. 1490. 



throat and windpipe in one stroke, and, receiving the 
blood in a vessel, he was to sprinkle some of it around 
the altar and pour out the remainder at the altar's foot. 
The skin was then stripped from the neck of the victim, 
its breast opened, the bowels taken out, the backbone 
cleft, and the whole divided into quarters. The legs and 
inwards were then washed, and, the various parts having 
been salted, they were all utterly consumed upon the altar 
of burnt-offering. If a turtle-dove or pigeon was offered, 
the priest wrung off its head and sprinkled its blood as 
above, but plucked away the crop with the feathers, and 
cast them east of the altar amongst the ashes. He then 
cleft the bird without dividing it, and salted and burnt 
it. If the person was too poor to bring a dove or pigeon, 
he was to bring a mincha, or meat-offering, for which see 
" Meat-offerings " (sect. 184). The fire used on this altar 
first came down from heaven, and was never suffered to 
go out (see sect. 149). Nadab and Abihu, the two elder 
sons of Aaron by Elisheba, were destroyed by fire from 
heaven because they presumed to use strange fire. Lev. 
ix. ; x. 

170. 2d, Peace -offerings. — These comprehended 
thank-offerings, freewill-offerings, and offerings made in 
consequence of vows, and were made in token of peace 
and reconciliation between God and man. The common 
offerings were a calf, lamb, or goat, accompanied by a 
proper meat-offering. In the case of vows and thank- 
offerings, the victim was to be without any blemish what- 
ever; but in the case of freeAvill-offerings, it might be 
either lacking or superfluous in its parts. The victim 
being brought, the offerer laid his hand upon its head as 
an acknowledgment of his guilt, and it was killed before 
the tabernacle. Its blood was then sprinkled round 
about the altar : the fat, kidneys, caul, and, if it was a 
lamb, the rump also, were burnt on it ; the breast was 
then waved and the shoulder heaved, and both became 
the property of the priests ; and the remainder was eaten 
by the offerer under three restrictions : 1st. If the 
peace-offering was for a thanksgiving, its flesh was to be 
eaten on the same day that the sacrifice was made, and 
all that remained on the morrow was to be burnt ; but if 
the peace-offering was for a vow or a voluntary offering, 



B. c. 1490. LEVITICUS. 103 

its flesh might be eaten on the morrow also, and all that 
remained on the third day was to be burnt. If this law 
was infringed, the sacrifice was of no effect. 2d. If the 
flesh touched any unclean thing, it was to be burnt. 3d. 
The persons who partook of it were not to be unclean 
from any circumstances, and it was declared that who- 
ever infringed this law would be cut off. The appointed 
seasons and occasions of the peace-offering were — 1. At 
the consecration of a priest ; 2. At the expiration of the 
Nazarite vow ; 3. At the solemn dedication of the taber- 
nacle ; 4. At the purification of a leper. Lev. iii. ; vii. 
11-38. 

171. 3d. Sin-offerings. — These were made for sins 
committed through ignorance, either by individuals or 
by the whole congregation, also as a purification from sin 
or uncleanness, as one was offered at the consecration of 
Aaron, and others were to be made at the cleansing of 
a leper and the purification of a woman after childbirth. 
Sin-offerings were made in four different ways — for a 
priest, a ruler, a common individual, or for the whole 
congregation. 

172. Sin-offering for a Priest. — The priest was to 
kill a young bullock at the door of the tabernacle, and 
dip his fingers into the blood and sprinkle it seven times 
before the veil of the sanctuary. He was then to put 
some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet 
incense within the tabernacle, and pour the remainder at 
the foot of the altar of burnt-offering at the door of the 
tabernacle. He was then to take all the fat, with the 
two kidneys and caul, and burn them upon the altar of 
burnt-offering, but all the remainder of the bullock, skin 
and all, was to be burnt without the camp. 

173. For the Congregation. — A young bullock was 
to be brought as before to the door of the tabernacle, and 
after the elders of the congregation had placed their 
hands upon its head, it was to be killed with the same 
ceremonies, saving that only its fat was to be burnt on 
the altar. The remainder of the bullock was in this 
case also to be burnt without the camp. 

174. For a Ituler. — The offerer was to bring a male 
kid of the goats and place his hand upon his head. The 
priest was then to kill it with the same ceremonies, burn 



104 LEVITICUS. b. c. 1490. 

only the fat upon the altar, and receive the remainder 
for his portion. 

175. For a Common Individual. — The offerer was 
to bring a female kid or lamb, which was to be slain 
with the same ceremonies. The fat only was to be of- 
fered, and the priest was to receive the remainder. In 
the case of purification of a leper or of a woman after 
childbirth, if the offerer could not bring a lamb, two 
turtles or young pigeons were to be offered, one for a 
sin-offering and the other for a burnt-offering. Lev. iv. ; 
vi. 24-30. 

176. 4th, Trespass-offerings. — These were made when 
the party had committed any trespass unwittingly, and also 
in the purgation of certain corporeal impurities. It is 
difficult to define the difference between the two classes 
of sins or trespasses for which sin-offerings and trespass- 
offerings were made. In both sacrifices the offerer placed 
his hand upon the victim's head and confessed his sin or 
trespass over it, and neither of them was ever admitted 
as a voluntary oblation. The sex of the victims and the 
sacrificial rites were, however, different. The offerings 
for trespass were to consist of rams or he-lambs, which 
were never used for sin-offerings, though turtle-doves or 
pigeons might be brought in both cases. Again, the 
blood of the sin-offering was to be put upon the horns 
of the altar, whilst that of the trespass-offering was to be 
sprinkled on the altar's sides. Sin-offerings were also of- 
fered for the whole congregation, whilst the trespass-offer- 
ing was only required from individuals; and the latter 
was also accompanied by a restitution for damage, and 
one-fifth added. Trespass-offerings were made in six 
cases — viz. 1. For things stolen, unjustly gotten, or de- 
tained ; 2. For sacrilege ; 3. For inadvertent unclean- 
ness; 4. For violating a bondmaid; 5. For a Nazarite; 
6. For a leper. Lev. v.; vi. 1-7; vii. 1-10. 

177. Typical Character of the Levitical Sacrifices. 
— I. The Burnt-offering prefigured the full, perfect, 
and sufficient sacrifice of Christ " to put away sin," and 
who by his "one offering hath perfected for ever them 
that are sanctified." Heb. ix. 26 ; x. 14. II. The Peace- 
offering represented Christ's oblation of himself, where- 
by he became our peace and salvation : " For he is our 



B. c. 1490. LEVITICUS. 105 

peace." Eph. ii. 14. III. The Sin-offering for sins of 
ignorance, being consumed without the camp, signified 
Christ's suffering " without the gate, that he might sanc- 
tify the people with his own blood." Heb. xiii. 11-13. 
IV. The Trespass-offering for sins knowingly com- 
mitted represents Christ, who is said to have " made 
his soul an offering for sin." Isa. liii. 10. 

2. Oblations. 

178. 1st. Ordinary Oblations: Shew-bread and 
Incense. — Ordinary oblations were of two kinds — viz. 
1st. Shew-bread, or twelve loaves, according to the 
twelve tribes, which the priests placed hot every Sab- 
bath morning on the golden table in the sanctuary, at 
the same time that they removed the stale loaves which 
had been exposed during the preceding week ; and they 
alone were permitted to eat this stale shew-bread; 2d. 
Incense, consisting of fragrant spices mixed with frank- 
incense and beat small, which was offered every morning 
and evening on the golden altar of incense within the tab- 
ernacle, whilst the people silently prayed without. No 
similar incense was to be used by the people under pain 
of death. Ex. xxv. 30 ; xxx. 34-38. 

179. 2d. Free Oblations. — These were the fruits of 
promises and vows. Of vows there were two kinds — 1st. 
The vow of consecration, when anything was devoted 
either for the sacrifice or for the service of the temple, as 
wood, salt, wine, etc. ; 2d. The vow of engagement, 
when persons engaged to do something that was not in 
itself unlawful, as not to eat some particular meat or 
wear some particular habits, or not to cut their hair 
or drink wine, etc. (See " Vows," sect. 197.) 

180. 3d. Prescribed Oblations. — These were of three 
kinds : first-fruits, firstlings, and tithes. 

181. 1. First-fruits, — All first-fruits were consecrated 
to God, being made both for the whole nation and for each 
particular family. The Jews were prohibited from gath- 
ering in the harvest before they had offered the omer or 
new sheaf* which was presented on the day after the 
great day of unleavened bread ; neither were they al- 
lowed to bake any bread from the new corn before they 



106 LEVITICUS. b. c. 1490. 

had offered two new loaves on the day of Pentecost. 
Without this all the corn was unclean. The person 
presenting the first-fruits was to give them to the priest, 
who was to place them by the side of the altar ; and the 
offerer was then to repeat a prayer of thanksgiving to 
God for delivering him from Egypt and leading him 
to the land of milk and honey. The first-fruits of 
corn, wine, oil, and wool afterward belonged to the 
priests. 

182. 2. Firstlings. — The first-born of all males of 
both men and animals belonged to God. The firstling 
of a cow, sheep, or goat was unredeemable and sacri- 
ficed, its blood sprinkled and fat burnt upon the altar, 
and the remainder given to the priests. But the first- 
ling of a man or an unclean animal was to be redeemed 
by the payment of 5 shekels [2 oz. 5 J dwts. = lis. 4d.]. 

183. 3. Tithes. — The Jews paid tenths or tithes of all 
they possessed to the Levites every year, except the sab- 
batical year, and the Levites, again, paid a tenth of the 
tithe they received to the priests. When the owners had 
paid this first tithe they gave a second tithe, which was 
eaten at offering feasts as a sign of rejoicing and grati- 
tude to God. A third tithe was given to the poor, to- 
gether with a corner of every field, which it was not 
lawful to reap with the rest, and such ears of corn, 
grapes, or sheaves as were dropped, scattered, or forgotten. 
Field-tithes might be redeemed by paying one-fifth more 
than the estimation of their value, but tithes of cattle 
could not be redeemed. The payment and valuation 
of the tithes were left to the people, though the Levites 
were not prohibited from seeing after them. The pay- 
ment of the second tithe was merely secured by the dec- 
laration which they made every three years before God. 
If a person had not paid his tithes, and afterward re- 
pented, he could atone for his omission by paying an 
additional fifth with his tithe and making a trespass- 
offering. Lev. xxvii. ; Num. xviii. 

184. Meat-offerings. — The meat-offerings, or mincha, 
consisted of meal, bread, cakes, ears of corn, or parched 
grain, prepared with oil and frankincense in different 
proportions according to the victims or occasions. They 
were always to be salted, but to be free from leaven or 



b. c. 1490. LEVITICUS. 107 

honey. They always accompanied burnt-offerings and 
peace-offerings, excepting when the victims were birds, 
which were not substituted for quadrupeds, but were 
never presented as a sin-offering, excepting when the 
offerer was too poor to afford two pigeons or turtle- 
doves, and as accompanying the sacrifice of a purified 
leper. Lev. ii. ; vi. 14-23; Num. xv. 

185. Drink-offerings, — These were never used sepa- 
rately, but were an accompaniment to both sacrifices and 
oblations. They consisted of wine, part of which was 
poured upon the victim and meat-offering whilst lying 
on the altar, and the remainder was allotted to the 
priests. Num. xv. 

186. National Sacrifices. — These were of four kinds 
— viz. 1. The perpetual or daily sacrifice, consisting of one 
lamb offered as a burnt-offering every morning, and an- 
other every evening, at the third and ninth hours, by a 
small fire, and accompanied by a meat and drink-offer- 
ing; 2. The weekly or Sabbath-day sacrifice, which was 
equal to the daily sacrifice, and offered in addition to it ; 
3. The monthly or new-moon sacrifice, at the beginning of 
each month, consisting of two young bullocks, one ram, 
and seven lambs of a year old for a burnt-offering, and 
one kid for a sin-offering, all of which were to be accom- 
panied by suitable meat- and drink-offerings ; 4. The 
yearly sacrifices on the great annual festivals — viz. 1st. 
The Passover; 2d. Tabernacles ; 3d. Pentecost; 4th. The 
new moon or beginning of the civil year, called the 
feast of trumpets; 5th. The day of expiation or atone- 
ment. Num. xxviii. 

4. Annual Feasts and Festivals, Sabbatical 
Years, Jubilee, etc. 

187. Classification, — Moses instituted five annual fes- 
tivals — viz. those of Passover, Pentecost, tabernacles, trum- 
pets, and expiation. At the three first all the males of 
the twelve tribes were bound to be present, and were 
promised that when residing in Canaan no man should 
desire their land whilst they were absent at Jerusalem ; 
and on these occasions no Israelite was to appear before 
the Lord without some offering. The last two festivals 



108 LEVITICUS. 



c. 1190. 



were celebrated with great solemnity, though the presence 
of every male Israelite was not absolutely required. 

188. First Feast, Passover, or Unleavened Bread, 
This feast was first instituted on the night before the 
exode of the Israelites from Egypt, and was ordered to be 
kept as a perpetual memorial of their deliverance. (Sect. 
97.) It lasted for seven days, commencing on the four- 
teenth day of the first month, Nisan or Abib, when the 
paschal lamb was slain, and continuing until the twenty- 
first day, during which unleavened bread only was eaten, 
in remembrance of the bread which the Israelites were 
obliged to carry from Egypt in the hurry of their depar- 
ture. All Israelites were compelled to keep the feast 
under pain of death ; but if any were unclean or on a 
journey, they might postpone its celebration until the 
fourteenth day of the second or ensuing month. The 
paschal lamb was to be a male without blemish, and to be 
taken from the sheep or goats four days before the feast ; 
it was to be roasted whole, eaten with unleavened bread 
and bitter herbs, no bones to be broken, and all that re- 
mained in the morning was to be burnt. One lamb was 
to be killed for every family, but two or three families 
might join together ; and they were to eat it standing, 
with their loins girded, their sandals on their feet, and 
their staves in their hands. Ex. xii. ; Lev. xxiii. 4-8. 

189. Second Feast, Pentecost, or Weeks, Harvest, 
or First-fruits. — This feast was called — 1st. The feast 
of Weeks, because it was celebrated seven weeks, or a 
week of weeks, after the first day of unleavened bread ; 
2d. The feast of Harvest and the day of First-Fruits, 
because on this day the Jews presented the first-fruits of 
the wheat-harvest in two loaves baked of the new corn ; 
and 3d. The feast of Pentecost (/7evriyzo«rT^), because it 
was kept on the fiftieth day after the first day of the feast 
of unleavened bread. Its object was also to commem- 
orate the promulgation of the law on Mount Sinai, and it 
lasted seven days. Wheaten loaves and first-fruits were 
presented ; seven lambs of the first year, one young bul- 
lock, and two rams were sacrificed as burnt-offerings, 
accompanied with meat- and drink-offerings ; one kid of 
the goats was offered as a sin-offering, and two lambs of 
the first year were offered for a peace-offering. Lev. xxiii. 






B. c. 1490. LEVITICUS. 109 

15-21. [It was at this feast that the Holy Ghost de- 
scended on the apostles in the shape of cloven tongues. 
Acts ii. Christians keep it on Whitsunday, fifty days 
after Easter.] 

190. TJiird Feast, Tabernacles. — This feast, the last 
of the three great festivals, lasted also for a week, and 
was instituted to commemorate the dwelling of the Israel- 
ites in tents in the wilderness. During the whole festival 
the people dwelt in tents or tabernacles made of boughs 
and branches, and carried in their hands branches of 
palm trees, olives, citrons, myrtles, and willows. On the 
first day, which was accounted a Sabbath, thirteen bul- 
locks, two rams, and fourteen lambs were sacrificed as a 
burnt-offering, with their accompanying meat- and drink- 
offerings, and one kid was offered as a sin-offering. For 
the six succeeding days these sacrifices were regularly de- 
creased one bullock daily, and on the eighth day, which 
was accounted a Sabbath, there were only one bullock, 
one ram, seven lambs, and one kid offered as burnt- and 
peace-offerings, together with their meat- and drink-offer- 
ings. Lev. xxiii. ; Num. xix. 33-44. 

191. Fourth Feast, Trumpets. — This feast was held 
on the first and second days of the month Tizri, and 
formed the commencement of the civil year, in the 
same way that the Passover commenced the sacred year. 
During this festival no labors were performed, a religious 
convocation of all the people was held, and trumpets were 
continually blown. The extra burnt-offering consisted of 
one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs, with their 
meat- and drink-offerings, and one kid of the goats was 
offered for a peace-offering. Lev. xxiii. 23-25 ; Num. 
xxix. 1-6. 

192. Fifth Feast, or Fast of Expiation, or Day 
of Atonement. — This was celebrated on the tenth day 
of Tizri, and was observed as a strict fast, the people 
abstaining from all servile work, taking no food, and 
afflicting their souls. The sacrifices on this day were 
the most solemn and important of all that were or- 
dained in the Mosaic ritual. On this day only was the 
high priest alone permitted to enter the sanctuary, and 
not even then without preparation, under pain of death. 
Having washed himself in water and put on his holy 

10 



110 LEVITICUS. b. c. 1490. 

linen garments and mitre, the high priest performed the 
following ceremonies : 

1. Offerings for Himself, Household, Priests, and Levites. 
— He was to go into the outer sanctuary and present to 
the Lord a ram for a burnt-offering, and a young bullock 
as a sin-offering for himself, his household, and the priests 
and Levites. 

2. For the Congregation. — He was to present two young 
goats at the door of the tabernacle, to be a sin-offering for 
the whole congregation, together with one ram for a 
ournt-offering. 

3. Casts Lots for the Scapegoat. — He was to cast lots 
upon the two goats, to see which was to be sacrificed for a 
sin-offering to the Lord, and which was to be let go for a 
scapegoat into the wilderness. 

4. Sprinkles Blood on the Mercy-seat. — He was to sacri- 
fice the bullock as a sin-offering for himself and house- 
hold, etc., and to take some of the blood into the inner 
sanctuary, bearing in his hand a censer of burning in- 
cense kindled at the sacred fire on the altar, and to 
sprinkle the blood seven times with his finger upon and 
before the mercy-seat, to purify it from the pollution it 
might be supposed to have contracted from his sins and 
transgressions during the preceding year. 

5. Sacrifices one Goat. — He was to sacrifice the allotted 
goat for the sins of the whole nation, and to enter the 
inner sanctuary a second time and sprinkle it with the 
blood as before, to purify it from the pollution of the 
people's sins and transgressions of the preceding year; 
after which he was also to purify the tabernacle and altar 
in the same manner. 

6. Ceremonies with the Scapegoat. — He was to bring the 
live goat, lay both his hands upon its head, and confess 
over it all the sins, iniquities, and transgressions of the 
children of Israel ; and after thus transferring them to 
the animal, he was to send it aw T ay by the hand of a fit 
person into the wilderness, to bear away all their iniquities 
into an unpeopled land, where they should be remembered 
uo more. 

7. Concluding Ceremonies. — He was to put off his linen 
garments and leave them in the sanctuary, and wash him- 
self again in w T ater, and put on his usual raiment, and 



B. c. 1490. LEVITICUS. Ill 

then to offer burnt-offerings for himself and people at the 
evening sacrifice. After the fat of the bullock and goat 
sacrificed for sin-offerings had been burnt upon the altar, 
the remainder of their carcass, skin, etc. was to be burnt 
without the camp, and the burner was afterward to wash 
his clothes and bathe in water. The person who let the 
scapegoat go in the wilderness was likewise to wash his 
clothes and bathe. Lev. xvi. ; xxiii. 26-32 ; Num. xxix. 
(See sect. 196.) 

193. [Later Feasts — Purim, Dedication, etc. — Be- 
sides the above annual festivals, the Jews introduced in 
later times several fasts and feasts in addition to those 
instituted by Moses. The two principal festivals of this 
kind were — 

I. The Feast of Purim, when all the people assem- 
bled to curse Haman. Esth. 

II. The Feast of Dedication, which was instituted 
by Judas Maccabseus, in imitation of those by Solomon 
and Ezra, as a grateful memorial of the cleansing of the 
second temple and altar, after they had been profaned by 
Antiochus Epiphanes. 1 Mace. iv. 52-59. 

Besides these two festivals, several fasts were instituted 
on various occasions, particularly to commemorate the 
disastrous events which preceded or followed the Baby- 
lonian captivity.] 

194. The Sabbatical Year, — Whilst every seventh 
day was consecrated as a day of rest for man and beast, 
every seventh year was set apart as a year of rest for the 
land. During that year the earth was to lie entirely 
fallow, and its spontaneous produce was to be enjoyed by 
the servants, strangers, and cattle. All Hebrew debtors 
and Hebrew servants were also to be released from their 
debts or service. If the latter chose to remain with his 
master, he must have his ears bored. Deut. xv. In order 
to prevent famine in this and the ensuing year, triple pro- 
duce was promised on the sixth or preceding year. Lev. 

XXV. 

195. The Jubilee. — This was a more solemn sabbatical 
year, held every fiftieth year or every seventh sabbatical 
year. On the tenth day of Tizri, being the great day of 
atonement, the trumpets were to be sounded throughout 
the land, all debts to be cancelled, and all slaves and cap- 



112 LEVITICUS. b. c. 1490. 

tives, even those who had their ears bored, to be set at 
liberty. All estates which had been sold were now to 
revert to their original proprietors, or to the families to 
which they had originally belonged. The value and pur- 
chase-money of estates were thus diminished as the year 
of jubilee approached. Houses in walled towns were ex- 
cepted from this rule ; these were to be redeemed within 
a year, or otherwise belonged to the purchaser, notwith- 
standing the jubilee. During this year the land was un- 
cultivated, as in the sabbatical year. Lev, xxv. 

196. Typical Intimations of the Messiah to be 
found in the Fasts and Festivals. — The three great 
feasts may be considered to be typical of the principal 
events in the life of Christ. I. The Passover prefigured 
his death and passion, and is the analogue of the Christian 
institution of the Eucharist. II. The Pentecost com- 
memorates the first-fruits of his Spirit, which subsequently 
descended at the commemoration of the festival. III. 
The Feast of Tabernacles prefigures his birth and in- 
carnation, when " the Word was made flesh and dwelt 
[tabernacled] among us." John i. 14. 

The solemn day of expiation was, however, the most 
strikingly typical of Christ's ministry and atonement, and 
in the following ways : 

1. Our Lord, the High Priest of our profession, com- 
menced his ministry by baptism " to fulfil all legal right- 
eousness." Matt. iii. 13-15. 

2. He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness 
as the true scapegoat, who " bore away our infirmities, 
and carried off our diseases." Matt. viii. 17. 

3. Before his crucifixion " he was afflicted," and " his 
soul was exceedingly sorrowful unto death " when he was 
to be made a sin-offering like the allotted goat. Matt. xxvi. 
38 ; 2 Cor. v. 21 ; Heb. i. 3. 

4. " His sweat, as great drops of blood falling to the 
ground," corresponded to the sprinkling of the mercy- 
seat. Luke xxii. 44. 

5. To prepare for his own sacrifice, he consecrated him- 
self in prayer to God, and then prayed for his household 
— apostles and disciples — and for all future believers. 
Matt. xxvi. 39-46 ; John xvii. 1-9, 20-26. 

6. He put off his garments at his crucifixion, when he 



B. c. 1490. LEVITICUS. 113 

became the sin-offering (John xix. 23, 24), and, as our 
spiritual High Priest, entered into the most holy place, 
heaven, to make intercession with God for all his faithful 
followers. Heb. vii. 24-28 ; ix. 7-15. " Who was delivered 
for our offences, and was raised again for our justifica- 
tion." Horn. iv. 25. 

The jubilee year had also a typical design and use, 
which is thus pointed out by Isaiah : " The Spirit of the 
Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed 
me to preach good tidings unto the meek ; he hath sent 
me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to 
the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that 
are bound ; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." 
Isa. lxi. 1, 2. The acceptable year of the Lord, when 
liberty was proclaimed to the captives and the opening of 
the prison to them that were bound, evidently refers to 
the jubilee, but in the prophetic sense means the gospel 
state and dispensation, which proclaim spiritual liberty 
from the bondage of sin and Satan and the liberty of re- 
turning to our own possession, even the heavenly inherit- 
ance, to which, having incurred a forfeiture by sin, we 
had lost all right and claim. 

5. Vows. 

197. Nature of Voivs. — Vows were religious engage- 
ments or promises voluntarily undertaken by a person 
toward the Almighty. Though the Israelites were not 
counselled or encouraged to make them, yet Jehovah him- 
self had declared his acceptance of them, and they were 
therefore binding not only in a moral view, but according 
to the national law, and the priest was authorized to en- 
force and estimate their fulfilment. 

198. How far Valid. — To render a vow valid three 
things were required by Moses: 1st. That it should be 
actually uttered with the lips, and not merely made in the 
heart ; 2d. That the party making it should be independ- 
ent of the authority of others and competent to under- 
take the obligation : thus the vows of minors, unmarried 
daughters under the parental roof, wives, slaves, etc., were 
all invalid unless ratified by the express or tacit consent 
of their fathers, husbands, or masters ; 3d. That the things 

10* ll 



114 LEVITICUS. b. c. 1490. 

vowed should not be the hire of a prostitute or price of a 
dog. Lev. xxvii. ; Num. xxx. ; Deut. xxiii. 18. 

199. Classification. — Common vows were of two kinds : 
I. Vows of Dedication ; II. Vows of Self-interdic- 
tion and Nazaritism. Besides these was the Cherem, 
a solemn kind of anathema, which was accompanied by a 
form of execration, and could not be redeemed. 

200. I. Vows of Dedication. — These were undertaken 
when a person engaged to bring an offering to God or to 
dedicate anything to him. There were four kinds of things 
vowed in this way — viz. : 

1st. Unclean Beasts. As these could not be offered 
to God, they were to be redeemed by the vowers, who 
paid one-fifth more than the value as estimated by the 
priest. 

2d. Clean Beasts for Offerings. These could not 
be redeemed nor exchanged for others, under penalty of 
both being forfeited to the Lord. No firstlings could be 
vowed, because they were already devoted to God. (See 
" Firstlings," sect. 182.) 

3d. Houses and Lands. — Houses might be redeemed 
by paying one-fifth more than the value, as estimated by 
the priest. Land might be redeemed in the same man- 
ner, but was to be estimated according to the seed it would 
require (fifty shekels [22f oz. = £5 13s. 10d.] to each homer 
[7 bushels 3 pecks If pints] of barley-seed), and also ac- 
cording to the years that remained before the year of 
jubilee, when, of course, it would revert to its hereditary 
owner. If, however, the person who vowed or sanctified 
the land would not redeem it, and the priest, upon his re- 
fusal, should sell it to another man, then the land would 
not revert to its original possessor at the jubilee, but would 
remain holy unto the Lord, and its possession would revert 
to the priests. 

4th. A Vower dedicating himself. — In these cases 
the vower was always to redeem himself according to the 
following scale : 





Shekels. £ s. 


d. 


\xes, from 1 month to 5 years old . 


. 5 = 11 


4 


MALES, " " " 


. 3 = 6 


9 


\.les, from 5 years to 20 years old . 


. 20 = 2 5 


6 


MALES, " " " 


. 10 = 1 2 


9 



B. c. 1490. 



LEVITICUS. 115 



Shekels. £ s. d. 
Males, from 20 years to 60 years old . 50 = 5 13 10 
Females, " " " . 30 = 3 8 3 

Males, from sixty years old and upward 15 = 1 14 1 
Females, " " " . 10 = 1 2 9 

If the person who vowed himself was very poor, the 
priest might estimate him at a still lower value. Lev. 
xxvii. 

201. II. Vows of Self-interdiction and Nazaritism. 

— These consisted in a person's engaging to abstain from 
wine, food, or any other thing. The most important of 
these vows were those appertaining to Nazaritism. Of 
Nazarites there were two classes: 1st. Those who were 
Nazarites by birth (as Samson and John the Baptist) ; 
2d. Those who were Nazarites by engagement and for a 
limited time. All Nazarites were required — 1. To drink 
no wine or strong drink of any kind ; 2. To eat no grapes 
or anything belonging to the vine ; 3. To let their hair 
grow ; 4. Not to defile themselves by touching the dead 
or mourning for their relations. If any one died in the 
presence of a Nazarite of the second class, the latter was 
compelled to shave his head, make the usual offerings, 
and recommence his Nazariteship. At the expiration of 
the vow the Nazarite was to offer at the door of the taber- 
nacle one male lamb of the first year for a burnt-offering, 
one ewe-lamb of the first year for a sin-offering, and one 
ram for a peace-offering, together with a basket of un- 
leavened bread and meat- and drink-offerings. He was 
also to shave his head and place the hair on the fire 
underneath the peace-offering, and the priest was to take 
the sodden shoulder of the ram, one unleavened cake, and 
one unleavened wafer, and, placing them in the hands of 
the Nazarite, he was to wave them for a wave-offering. 
After this the Nazarite might drink wine.* Num. vi. 

202. The Cher em or Anathema. — This was a solemn 

* The Rechriln'tcH are not to be confounded with the Nazarites. The 
former were the descendants of Jehonadab, the son of Itechab, and 
became famous for implicitly following these directions of their lather 
— viz. 1. To drink no wine; 2. To possess no houses, fields, or vine- 
yards; ?,. To dwell in tents. In consequence of their obedience, God 
promised that the posterity of Jehonadab should never cease. They 
appear to have gained their living by being scribes. Jer. xxxv. ; 1 Chron. 
ii. 55. 



116 LEVITICUS. b. c. 1490. 

kind of excommunication, which was accompanied by a 
form of execration and could not be redeemed. The 
species of Cherem with which we are best acquainted 
was the imprecation pronounced upon hostile cities, when 
the inhabitants were to be put to death, the cattle slain, 
the houses and treasures utterly burnt and destroyed, and 
a curse pronounced upon any who should attempt to re- 
build it. A Cherem was thus pronounced against Jeri- 
cho and the king of Arad, and against any Israelite city 
which should introduce or practise idolatry. (See " First 
Commandment," and Num. xxi. 1-3 ; Josh. xii. 14.) 

6. Purifications. 

203. Nature and Classification of Purifications. — 

Jewish purifications were of three kinds : 1st. Purifica- 
tion as A Religious Ceremonial, which was necessary 
for all persons and things engaged in divine worship ; 2d. 
Purification from Personal Uncleanness ; 3d. Pu- 
rification from Leprosy. 

204. Materials for Purifying. — Purifications were 
performed with three different materials: 1. By the 
sprinkling of blood ; 2. By the anointing with oil ; 3. By 
the water of purification, which was drawn from a spring 
or running stream, and was either pure, or mixed with 
blood or with the ashes of a red heifer. The last case 
alone requires description. The people were to bring a 
red heifer without blemish, and which had never borne a 
yoke, to the high priest, who was then to take it without 
the camp, kill it before the people, sprinkle its blood 
seven times before the gate of the tabernacle, and then 
to burn the whole (including the flesh, hide, blood, and 
excrements), casting into the fire a bundle of cedar-wood, 
some hyssop, and double-dyed scarlet. The ashes were 
then carefully collected and put in a clean place, and 
both the high priest and the men who burnt the heifer and 
gathered together its ashes were to wash their clothes, 
bathe their flesh, and be unclean until the evening. Num. 
xix. 

205. 1st. Purification as a Meligious Ceremonial. 
— All persons and things dedicated to divine worship 
were to undergo purification. The Levites, priests, and 



B. c. 1490. LEVITICUS. 117 

high priest all underwent a purification previous to their 
consecration. The Israelites washed their flesh and 
clothes previous to receiving the law ; and after its pro- 
mulgation and the people had declared their assent to 
the book of the Covenant, Moses sprinkled them with 
blood. The tabernacle and all its sacred vessels were 
also anointed with oil. Those about to offer sacrifices or 
prayers were also lustrated, and especially the priests and 
high priest before executing their respective offices. Last- 
ly, all who were adjudged by the Mosaic law to be im- 
pure or unclean required to be purified before they could 
be admitted into the congregation of the Lord. Num. 
xix. ; Lev. viii. 

206. 2d. Purification from Personal Unclean- 
ness. — If an unclean person did not purify himself, he 
was to be cut off from the congregation. There were six 
species of uncleanness — viz. I. Dead bodies ; II. Gon- 
orrhoea, or seed-flux ; III. Emisso seminis ; IV. Child- 
birth ; V. Menses and issues of blood ; VI. Leprosy. 
If a clean person touched an unclean one, he contracted 
a similar uncleanness, and both were excluded from the 
tabernacle until their purification was completed.* Lev. 
xi. ; xii. ; xv. ; Num. xix. 

207. 3d. Purification from Leprosy. — As this fear- 
ful disease was contagious, and hereditary to the third 
and fourth generations, the separation of lepers from the 
camp and congregation, and the destruction of infected 
houses and clothes, were of the utmost importance to the 
preservation of public health. Moses thus acted respect- 
ing leprosy : I. He ordered every man attacked by a cu- 
taneous disorder to show himself to the priest. II. He 
authorized the priests to examine the disease wherever it 
appeared. III. He gave the priests ample directions for 
distinguishing between leprosy and a harmless spot or 
scab, for deciding upon its progress or cure in man, and 
for eradicating the infection from walls and garments. 
IV. He prescribed the days that must expire, and the 
sacrifices and ceremonies to be performed, before the leper 
could be finally purified and restored to civil society and 
the participation in things holy. Lev. xiii. 

* For a further account of purifications, etc., see Michaelis. 



118 LEVITICUS. b. c. 1490. 

208. Classification, — Leprosy was of three kinds — 
1st. Leprosy in Man; 2d. Leprosy in Houses; 3d. 
Leprosy in Clothes — for each of which a purification 
was required. Lev. xiii. 

209. 1st. Leprosy in Man : Character and Symp- 
toms. — This disease was of two species — viz. I. Conta- 
gious Leprosy, which rendered a person unclean, and 
was called tsorat, signifying "venom" or " malignity ;" II. 
Uncontagious Leprosy, under which a person was still 
clean, and which was called bohak, or " dull white." Both 
tsorat and bohak were also called berat, signifying " bright 
spot," but bohak imported brightness in a subordinate 
degree. 

210. Laws for distinguishing Leprosy. — When a 
person was attacked by either of the foregoing affections, 
he was immediately taken to the priest ; and if the priest 
saw the bright-white scarlet surface depressed in the mid- 
dle and the white patches, he immediately declared the 
person to be leprous and unclean, and sent him without 
the camp. If the priest had any doubt, he put the per- 
son under domestic confinement for seven days, and then 
examined him a second time, when, if it had spread, etc., 
he was declared leprous and unclean ; if it had subsided, 
he was discharged ; but if it was stationary, he was con- 
fined another seven days, after which the nature of the 
disease always exhibited itself. If leprosy spread over 
the entire frame without producing ulceration, it lost its 
contagious power or exhausted itself, and the patient was 
declared clean by the priest whilst the dry scales were 
yet upon him. Lev. xiii. 12, 13. If, on the contrary, the 
patches should ulcerate, and quick or fungous flesh spring 
up in them, the priest was at once to pronounce the case 
to be an inveterate leprosy, for which a temporary con- 
finement was unnecessary ; and the leper was unclean for 
life. Lev. xiii. 

211. Purification from Leprosy. — When the priest 
was satisfied that the leper was healed, he was to take two 
birds, and kill one of them over an earthen vessel filled 
with river water, so that the blood might mingle with the 
water. He was then to dip the other bird into the blood 
and water and sprinkle the leper with it seven times with 
a stick of cedar upon which a bunch of hyssop was tied 



B.C. 1490. LEVITICUS. 119 

with a scarlet thread ; after which, he was to pronounce 
the leper clean and to let loose the living bird. The 
leper was then to wash and stay without the camp seven 
days, and on the seventh day to shave off all his hair and 
bathe. On the eighth day he was to take to the priest 
two male lambs and one ewe-lamb of the first year for a 
trespass-offering, sin-offering, and burnt-offering, together 
with a meat-offering, and one log [nearly two-thirds of a 
pint] of oil. If the leper was poor, he might take two 
turtle-doves for the sin-offering and burnt-offering. In 
offering the trespass-offering the priest was to sprinkle 
the blood upon the leper's right ear, thumb, and great 
toe. He was then to do the same with the oil after 
sprinkling it seven times before the Lord ; and upon the 
completion of the sacrifices the leper was to be considered 
purified. Lev. xiv. 

212. 2d. Leprosy in Houses, — This exhibited itself 
in green or red spots on the walls, continually spreading, 
which the priest was to examine, and then order the 
house to be shut up for seven days. If after this the 
leprosy had not spread, the house was shut up for seven 
days more. If it was then dim or gone away, the part 
of the wall was to be taken away to an unclean place, 
and the house mended, scraped, and replastered. It was 
then shut up for another seven days ; and if after this the 
plague broke out upon it anew, it was to be pulled down 
and carried away to an unclean place ; but if it was pro- 
nounced clean, two birds were offered, as in the case of 
human leprosy. Lev. xiv. 

213. Third, Leprosy in Clothes, — This also exhib- 
ited itself in green or reddish spots, which remained in 
spite of washing, and continued to spread. Suspected 
garments were to be examined by the priest ; if he found 
them corroded, he burnt them ; but if the spots were 
taken out by washing he pronounced them clean. Lev. 
xiii. 



214. Typical Intimations in Leviticus. — (See sect. 
169, note, and sects. 177, 196.) The Epistle to the He- 
brews should be carefully read in connection with Levit- 
icus, of which it forms an important illustration. 



120 NUMBERS. b.c. 1490. 



NUMBERS. 

(Numbering and Marshalling of the Israelites.) 

HISTORY OP THE ISRAELITES FROM THE DELIVERING OF THE LAW AT SINAI 
TO THE CONQUEST OF THE COUNTRY EAST OF THE JORDAN. B. C. 1490 TO 
1451.— ABOUT 38 YEARS AND 9 OR 10 MONTHS. 



ANALYSIS. 

I. Wanderings in the Wilderness. 

Review of the chronology. — Numbering of the people, and 
march from Sinai to Zin, 1490. — March to Taberah ; murmurings 
at fatigue. — March to Kibroth-hattaavah ; murmuring for flesh; 
quails and plague sent. — Council of LXX. appointed. — Sedition of 
Aaron and Miriam at Hazeroth. — Encampment at Kadesh; 
spies sent to Canaan. — Ten spies destroyed ; forty years' wanderings 
declared ; Israelites defeated. — History of thirty-eight years' wan- 
derings, 1490-1451. — Eebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, 
1471. — Congregation murmur ; 14,700 slain by a plague; blossom- 
ing of Aaron's rod, 1471. — Return to Kadesh ; water from Meri- 
bali ; Moses and Aaron sin, 1453 page 120. 

II. Conquest of the Country east of the Jordan. 

Israelites refused a passage through Edom ; Aaron dies at Hor, 
1452. — Defeat of the Canaan ites at Hormah. — March from Hor to 
the Arnon; fiery serpents, and miracle of the brazen serpent. — 
Defeat of Sihon and Og, 1452.' — Balak fails to persuade Balaam to 
curse Israel. — Israelites commit idolatry; Zimri andCozbi slain by 
Phinehas. — Midianites defeated ; Balaam slain. — Second muster- 
ing, 1451. — Census of 1491 and 1451 compared. Reuben, Gad, and 
half Manasseh's territory east of the Jordan, 1451. — Six cities of 
refuge; conclusion of Numbers. — Book of the Wars of the Lord. — 
Typical and prophetical intimations of the Messiah in Numbers. 
— Names, and meanings of the names of the principal persons 
mentioned in Exodus and Numbers page 124. 



SUMMARY. 

I. Wanderings in the Wilderness. 

215. Review of the Chronology. — On the fourteenth 
day of the first month of the year, B. c. 1491, the Israel- 
ites kept the Passover and marched from Egypt. Ex. xii. 



b. c. 1490. NUMBERS I.-XI. 121 

% 3, 6, 18, 29-37. On the first day of the third month 
of the same year [b. c. 1491] they encamped at Sinai. 
Ex. xix. 1. On the first day of the first month of the next 
year [b. c. 1490] the tabernacle was completed. Ex. xl. 2, 
17. On the first day of the second month of the same 
year [b. c. 1490] the numbering of the people commenced. 
Num. i. 1-4. And on the twentieth day of the second 
month of the same year [b. c. 1490] the Israelites marched 
from Sinai. Num. x. 11. The Israelites were therefore 
two months marching from Egypt to Sinai ; and the whole 
encampment at Sinai lasted eleven months and nineteen 
days, during which the laws, tabernacle, and order of 
divine service were established, and the people numbered 
and mustered for the approaching war. 

216. Numbering of the People, and March from, 
Sinai to JParan or Zin, 1490. — Moses now, at the 
command of Jehovah, numbered the twelve tribes and 
marshalled them into a regular camp, each tribe by itself 
under its own captain or chief, and distinguished by its 
own peculiar standard ; upon which the cloud left the 
tabernacle and rested in the wilderness of Paran. Two 
silver trumpets were also made according to God's direc- 
tion — one to summon the princes, and the two to call to- 
gether the camp and to be sounded at the national sacri- 
fices. After this the whole twelve tribes marched forward 
through the desert of Zin or Paran in prescribed order, 
Moses taking with him his brother-in-law, Hobab, to mark 
out the ground for the several encampments. Num. i. ; 
ii. ; x. 

217. March to Taberah ; Murmuring s at Fa- 
tigue. — Three days' journey from Sinai the people 
complained, and many were destroyed by fire from heav- 
en, which was only quenched by the prayers of Moses, 
who called the place "Taberah," "a burning." Num. 
xi. 1-3. 

218. March to Itibroth-hattaavah ; Murmuring 
for Flesh ; Quads and Plague sent. — After the Israel- 
ites had left Taberah they wearied of manna and mur- 
mured for flesh. A wind from the sea then brought up 
abundance of quails, which the people rebellious] v brought 
to the camp; but whilst the flesh was between their teeth 
a plague from Jehovah carried off tin- ringleaders, and 

1L 



122 NUMBERS XL-XIII. b. c. 1490. 

Moses called the place " Kibroth-hattaavah " ("the 
graves of lust"). Kum. xi. 4-15, 18-23, 31-35. 

219. Council of LXX. appointed. — Moses now found 
so much difficulty in governing the people that, at God's 
command, he appointed seventy elders to share the 
burden. These are supposed to have been the origin of 
the great national council of the Jews, called afterward 
the Sanhedrim. (See sect. 138.) Num. xi. 16, 17, 24-30. 

220. Sedition of Aaron and Miriam at Hazeroth. 
— From Kibroth-hattaavah the Israelites journeyed to 
Hazeroth, where Aaron and Miriam murmured at Moses 
because of his marriage with an Ethiopian or Cushite 
woman, who is supposed by some to have meant Zipporah. 
The auger of Jehovah was kindled ; he came down in the 
pillar of cloud and called Aaron and Miriam to the door 
of the tabernacle, and, having reproached them for their 
rebellious envy, he struck Miriam with a leprosy. Aaron 
entreated pardon of Moses, who then besought God to 
heal his sister, and she was healed after seven days. Num. 
xii. 

221. Encampment at Kadesh-barnea ; Spies sent 
to Canaan. — The Israelites had now advanced by short 
marches through the mountains into the great sand desert 
of Zin or Paran, as far as Kadesh-barnea. Here Moses 
sent twelve men to spy out Canaan, who returned after 
forty days' absence with favorable specimens of the grapes, 
pomegranates, figs, and other fruits of the Promised Land, 
but with such fearful accounts of the stature and strong 
positions of the inhabitants that they terrified a generation 
whose spirit had been broken by Egyptian slavery. Num. 
xiii. 

222. Ten Spies destroyed; Forty Years' Wander- 
ings declared ; Israelites defeated. — Ten spies out of 
the twelve had thus reported unfavorably of the enemy ; 
and in spite of the remonstrances of the other two, Caleb 
and Joshua, a most dangerous insurrection broke out. In 
vain these two faithful men represented that, with the as- 
sistance of Jehovah, the conquest would be easy ; the 
people threatened to stone them, and prepared to return 
to Egypt. Then followed the awful sentence of God — 
that all the Hebrews who had been more than twenty 
years old on the exode from Egypt, except Joshua and 



b. c. 1490-1471. NUMBERS XIV.-XVI. 123 

Caleb, should die in the desert and Canaan be conquered 
by the next generation ; and the ten spies who had incited 
them to rebel were carried off by a plague. The Israel- 
ites were now sensible of their folly, and perversely ad- 
vanced upon the Promised Land ; but being repulsed by 
the Canaanites and Amalekites on the southern border of 
Palestine with great slaughter, they turned back, and 
spent nearly thirty-eight years in wandering about Mount 
Seir. Num. xiv. 

223. History of TJiirty-eight Years 9 Wandering, 
1490-1453 ; Rebellion of Korah, Da than, and 
Abiram, 1471. — The events of this period are but 
briefly recorded ; some more laws were promulgated (see 
"Leviticus"), and in b. c. 1471 the rebellion of Korah, 
Dathan, and Abiram broke out, Korah aspiring to the 
priesthood, and Dathan and Abiram to the leadership of 
the people. It appears that Korah was a Levite, and 
one of the chiefs of the family of Kohath, the second son 
of Levi, who were especially employed in carrying the 
ark and Holy of Holies, and therefore the most nearly 
related to Aaron and next to his family in the sacred 
character of their functions. Num. iii. 27-31. Korah 
therefore rebelled, under the pretence that all the congre- 
gation were as holy as Aaron and his family, and had as 
much right to the priesthood. On the other hand, Dathan 
and Abiram were descended from Reuben, the first-born 
of Jacob, and therefore considered that their birth entitled 
them to greater pre-eminence in temporal matters than 
Moses, who was the great-grandson of Levi, the third son 
of Jacob. Moses now desired Korah and his party of 
two hundred and fifty men to assemble with censers and 
see whom the Lord chose to come near him, and then he 
desired the whole congregation to separate themselves 
from the tents and families of the three conspirators and 
their followers. At the command of Jehovah the earth 
then opened and swallowed up the families, tents, and 
goods appertaining to the rebels, whilst a fire consumed 
the two hundred and fifty men who presumed to offer 
incense, and the censers of the latter were collected and 
made into broad plates for a covering for the altar. Num. 
xvi. 1-40. St. Jude compares the doctrines of false 
teachers to this rebellion. Jude 11. 



124 NUMBERS XVL-XX. b. c. 1471-1452. 

224. Congregation Murmur; 14,700 slain by a 
Plague ; Blossoming of Aaron's Rod, 14=71. — The 

next day the congregation murmured at this destruction 
of the rebels, and Jehovah sent a plague which carried 
off 14,700 of the murmurers. At the direction of God, 
the prince of each tribe then wrote his name on a rod, 
Aaron writing his name on the rod for the tribe of Levi. 
The twelve rods were then laid up in the tabernacle for 
one night, that it might be distinctly seen by all whom 
it was that the Lord had chosen as high priest. The 
next morning the rod of Aaron had blossomed, budded, 
and yielded almonds, and was ever afterward preserved 
in the ark as a testimony against the rebels. Num. xvi. 
41-50 ; xvii. 

225. Return to Kadesh ; Water from Meribah ; 
Moses and Aaron sin, 1453. — In the first month of 
this year the Israelites again returned to Kadesh, in the 
wilderness of Zin, where Miriam died and was buried. 
The congregation murmured for water, and Moses, hav- 
ing been directed by God to speak to the rock at Meribah, 
struck it twice with Aaron's rod and brought forth abun- 
dance of water. Before striking the rock Moses and Aaron 
said to the congregation, " Hear now, ye rebels ; must we 
fetch you water out of this rock ?" For this speech, in 
which they did not give the honor of the miracle to God, 
and for striking the rock instead of speaking to it, Jehovah 
punished them by refusing them the privilege of leading 
the Israelites into Canaan. Num. xx. 1-13. 

II. Conquest of the Country east of the Jordan. 

226. Israelites refused a Passage through Edom ; 
Aaron dies at Hor, 1452. — The Israelites had been 
forbidden to molest either the Moabites or Edomites ; 
accordingly, Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to en- 
treat the Edomites to grant the Hebrews a free passage 
through their country to Southern Canaan. The descend- 
ants of Esau refused this request, and the children of Is- 
rael were accordingly compelled to take a circuitous route 
round the frontiers of Edom. From Kadesh the Hebrews 
marched to Mount Hor, in Moab, where it was intimated 
by Jehovah that Aaron should be gathered unto his peo- 



B.C. 1452. NUMBERS XX., XXI. 125 

pie. Accordingly, Moses and Aaron and Aaron's son, 
Eleazar, ascended the mount, and, Moses having stripped 
the sacerdotal garments from Aaron and put them upon 
Eleazar, the old high priest died on the summit of the 
mount, and all Israel mourned for him thirty days. 
Num. xx. 14-21, 29. 

227. Defeat of the Canaanites at Uormah. — The 
Israelites now attacked Arad, king of a Canaanite na- 
tion on the southern border of Palestine, who with the 
Amalekites had defeated them after the return of 
the twelve spies (sect. 222). On this occasion Israel 
utterly destroyed the Canaanite cities, and the place 
was called Hormah (" utter destruction)." Num. xxi. 
1-3. 

228. March from Hor to the Arnon ; Fiery Ser- 
pents, — The Israelites, having passed along the frontier 
of Edom, crossed the river Zared, and proceeded north- 
erly through the Moabite territory to the river Arnon. 
On their way they again murmured at their fatigues and 
deprivations, and a plague of fiery serpents destroyed sev- 
eral ; but at length they confessed their sin, and Moses, 
having interceded for them, was ordered to set up a 
brazen serpent, which healed all who looked upon it. 
Num. xxi. 4-9. These fiery serpents might have re- 
minded the Israelites of the old serpent who brought sin 
into the world, whilst the brazen serpent was the type of 
the Messiah : " And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the 
wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up." 
John iii. 14. This serpent was preserved to the time of 
Hezekiah, who broke it in pieces because the Israelites 
burnt incense before it. 2 Kings xviii. 4. 

229. Defeat of SUion and Og, 1452. — Upon reach- 
ing the river Arnon, Moses requested a free passage from 
Si lion, king of the Amorites, who refused and marched 
against the Israelites, but was utterly defeated. Og, king 
of Bashan, the last of the giants,* whose iron bedstead 
was nine cubits [16 feet 4 inches] long and four cubits 
[7 feet 3 inches] broad, followed the example of Silion, 



* One of the old race of Rephaim, who abode here in the time of 
Abraham, and were .subjected by the Assyrian forces under Chedor- 
laoiner. 



126 NUMBERS XXL-XXIV. b. c. 1452. 

and was also completely routed at Edrei. By these two 
victories the whole country east of the Jordan — from the 
river Arnon, which falls into the Dead Sea, to Mount 
Hermon, at the foot of the chain of Anti-Lebanon — 
fell into the hands of the Hebrews. Num. xxi. 10-35. 

230. Halak fails to persuade Balaam to curse Is- 
rael. — The Moabites and Ammonites saw the defeat of 
their old enemies the Amorites with pleasure, but, being 
ignorant that the Israelites were forbidden to attack them- 
selves, they regarded their new and powerful neighbors 
with suspicious dread. Balak, king of Moab, allied with 
some Midianites, a nomad race descended from Abraham 
and Keturah, who were then pasturing in the Amorite 
territory ; and the elders of Midian and Moab went to 
Balaam, the son of Beor, an Edomite prophet living at 
Pethor, in Mesopotamia, on the Euphrates, to endeavor 
to persuade him by rewards to curse the Hebrews in the 
name of the Lord. But " God said to Balaam, Thou 
shalt not go with them ; thou shalt not curse the people, 
for they are blessed ;" upon which, Balaam dismissed the 
messengers. The next morning more honorable princes 
were sent to Balaam with more pressing entreaties for 
his presence ; upon which, God permitted him to go, but 
"what I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do." Ba- 
laam proceeded before the appointed time, when the 
angel of the Lord stood in the way and stopped his ass, 
who then miraculously spoke and rebuked his master; 
and the angel said to Balaam, " Only the word that I 
shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak." Upon 
arriving before Balak and offering up sacrifies, Balaam, 
instead of cursing, blessed the Israelites, and said, " There 
shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise 
out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and 
destroy all the children of Sheth." Num. xxii. ; xxiii. ; 
xxiv. 

231. Israelites commit Idolatry ; Zimri and Cozbi 
slain by Phinehas. — Subsequently, by the counsel of 
Balaam, the women of Moab and Midian tempted the 
Hebrews to fornication and the worship of Baal-peor. 
God ordered Moses to punish the offenders with death ; 
a plague destroyed 24,000, but the evil seemed to in- 



b. c. 1451. NUMBERS XXV., XXVI. 127 

crease. Zimri, an Israelite, and the prince of a chief 
house among the Simeonites, had the audacity to bring 
a Midianitish woman of noble family, named Cozbi, into 
the camp before the whole congregation. Phinehas, the 
son of Eleazar the high priest, transfixed the guilty pair 
with a javelin, and his holy zeal pleased Jehovah and 
the plague ceased. God rewarded Phinehas by promis- 
ing to him and 'his seed "the covenant of an everlasting 
priesthood ;" which, however, must not be understood lit- 
erally, for after a few successions the priesthood fell for a 
time into the hands of Eli, of the family of Ithamar, the 
youngest son of Aaron, b. c. 1181-1141. But in Solo- 
mon's reign it again reverted to the family of Phinehas, 
in which it continued as long as the priesthood lasted. 
Num. xxv. 

232. Mldlanites defeated ; Balaam slain, — The 
Lord now commanded the Israelites to avenge them- 
selves on the Midianites. Every tribe accordingly sent 
in a thousand men, and the whole 12,000 marched 
against the enemy, under the command of Phinehas, 
and utterly routed them with great slaughter, but in- 
censed Moses by saving the women alive, and he imme- 
diately ordered all the male children and female adults 
amongst the captives to be slain. Balaam, the son of 
Beor, was amongst the dead on the field of battle.* Num. 
xxxi. 

233. Second Mastering, 1451. — The Jordan alone 
now separated the Hebrews from Canaan, and the new 
generation of soldiers, of twenty years old and upward, 
were mustered and reviewed by Moses and Eleazar in the 
plains of Moab previous to the conquering of the country. 
The punishment declared by God was now found to be 
completed ; for none of the old generation that were re- 
viewed at Sinai were found amongst the present muster- 
ing, save Joshua and Caleb. Num. xxvi. 



* The conduct of this unprincipled prophet is alluded to by St. Jude, 
\cr. 1 I, who accuses false teachers of 1 * running greedily after the error 
of Balsam for reteard" — i.e. corrupting Christ's doctrine for lucre's sake. 
St. Peter in his Second Epistle (ii. 15) saya the same, but culls Balaam 
"the una of Bosor." Bosor may be the Chaldaio spelling of Beor, or a 
Second name, or it may be for Pethor, by changing, as is common in 
Syriac, i> to b and th to *; hence Beaor, Honor. 



128 NUMBERS XXVII.-XXXV. b. c. 1451. 

234. Census of B. C. 1491 and that of B. C. 1451 
compared. — 

At the first census taken of the various tribes 
at Sinai, the number of males above twenty 
years of age was found to be 625,850 

Whilst, according to the census of B. c. 1451, 
after about forty years' wanderings in the wil- 
derness and the first generation had died, the 
number of males above twenty years old was 625,030 
Net decrease in about forty years . . 820 

The Levites are included in both enumerations. 
The whole population of the Israelites, including women 
and children, must have been at the exode from Egypt 
about 2,000,000 a wonderful increase from the seventy- 
five persons of Jacob's family w r ho migrated to Egypt in 
the time of Joseph, b. c. 1706. (See sect 70.) 

235. Beuben, Gad, and half Manasseh' s Territory 
east of the Jordan. — Moses was informed by God of his 
approaching death, and appointed Joshua as his successor. 
He gave to Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh the country 
east of the Jordan, but ordered them to assist the other 
tribes previous to settling. Num. xxvii. 12-23 ; xxxii. 

236. Six Cities of Mefuge; Conclusion of Num- 
bers. — Moses appointed forty-eight cities to the Levites 
(see sect. 164), six of which were to be cities of refuge. 
These were easy of access to those who had accidentally 
committed murder, all cross-roads having a finger-post 
bearing the word " Refuge " to direct the fugitive. There 
were three on each side of the Jordan — viz. East : Bezer, 
Golan, Ramoth-gilead ; West : Kedesh, Hebron, and 
Shechem. Josh. xx. The history of Numbers concludes 
with a description of the territory to be subdued, a repe- 
tition of the injunctions to expel the inhabitants, and a 
list of the forty-two encampments of the Israelites in the 
wilderness. Num. xxxiii. ; xxxv. 

237. Book of the Wars of the Lord. — In Num. xxi. 
14 an allusion is made to this book, upon which there are 
many opinions. Some think it refers to either of the 
books of Numbers, Joshua, or Judges ; others, to an au- 
thentic history of the conquests east of Jordan by the 
Amorites themselves ; whilst Dr. Lightfoot thinks it was 



B. c. 1451. NUMBERS. 129 

a book written by Moses, containing directions to Joshua 
for conquering Palestine. (See Ex. xvii. 14.) 



238. Typical and Prophetical Intimations of the 
Messiah in Numbers. — There are two types of the 
Messiah in this book. I. The water that issued from 
the rock : " For they drank of that spiritual Eock that 
followed them ; and that Rock was Christ." 1 Cor. x. 4. 
II. The brazen serpent : " And as Moses lifted up the 
serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man 
be lifted up." John iii. 14. There is but one predic- 
tion concerning the Messiah, which is placed in the mouth 
of Balaam : " I shall see him, but not now : I shall behold 
him, but not nigh : there shall come a Star out of Jacob, 
and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the 
corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. 
. . . Out of Jacob shall come He that shall have do- 
minion." Num. xxiv. 17, 19. 



Names, and Meanings of the Names, of the principal Persons men- 
tioned in Exodus and Numbers. 

Moses (saved from the water). 

Pharaoh (spreading abroad vengeance), king of Egypt. 

Miriam (exalted), sister of Moses. 

Aaron, (a teacher, a hill), high priest and brother of Moses. 

THE FOUR SONS OF AARON. 

Nadab (liberal vowing). Eleazar (the aid of God) 

Abihu (he is father). Ithamar (woe to the hand). 



Korah (baldness), 
Dathan (laws) 






the three rebellious leaders in the wilder- 



ness. 



Abiram (decei 

Joshua (saviour), ") .-. , * .,, r , 

r < i i / , n i j . N > the two laithlul spies. 

Caleb (a dog, crow, basket), j l 

Balak (who lays waste), king of Moab. 

Balaam (ancient of the people) an Edomite prophet. 



130 DEUTERONOMY. b. c. 1451. 



DEUTERONOMY. 

(Aevrspoc vofiog, "the second law" — a repetition of the law.) 

REPETITION AND CONFIRMATION OP THE LAW. B. C. 1451 -ABOUT TWO MONTHS. 



ANALYSIS. 

The last Acts of Hoses. 

Repetition and confirmation of the Law. — Death of Moses, 1451. 
— Review of the life and character of Moses. — His mission. — Proph- 
ecies in Deuteronomy. — Authenticity of the last chapter of 
Deuteronomy page 130. 

$ Canaan prior to its Conquest by the Israelites. 

Canaan. — Boundaries and bordering nations. — Description of the 
country. — Early inhabitants — viz. 1st. Canaanites of Arabia, or 
Amalekites ; 2d. Canaanites of Sidon and its neighborhood, or 
Phoenicians; 3d. Canaanites who occupied Palestine. — The Philis- 
tines. — Palestine the highway between Egypt and the Asiatic 
empires page 133. 



SUMMARY. 

The last Acts of Hoses. 

239. Repetition and Confirmation of the Lata ; 

Death of Moses, 1451. — Moses now felt that his end 
was approaching, and his last act was to deliver to the 
magistrates a farewell address, which composes his fifth 
book, or Deuteronomy. In this he earnestly exhorted the 
people to obedience by alluding to the kindness, severity, 
and providence of God. He exhibited the sanctions of 
the law and repeated the most important statutes, and, as 
circumstances had changed, he made several additions 
and alterations to the code ; and the laws were ordered to 
be subsequently engraved on stone pillars and solemnly 
erected at Shechem, on Mount Ebal. Deut. xxvii. ; Josh. 



b. c. 1451. DEUTERONOMY. 131 

viii. 32-35. Moses then minutely developed the condi- 
tions upon which Jehovah would govern his people, and 
how their destinies would depend upon their faithful ad- 
herence to the God of their fathers. He commissioned 
Joshua to be the military leader after his death, and de- 
livered the book of the law to the priests, to be kept in 
the ark and publicly read at the feast of tabernacles 
every sabbatical year ; and he left a song which was to 
be " taught to all Israel," in which he vividly represented 
the perverseness of the Hebrews, their future disobedience 
and punishment, repentance, and pardon. Finally, the 
venerable old lawgiver, " when his eye was not dim nor 
his natural force abated," ascended the height of Pisgah 
and viewed the land of promise ; and then, when borne 
down by the weight of one hundred and twenty years, his 
bones were laid in a mysterious and unknown grave. Deut. 
i. ; xxxiv. " And the Lord buried him in a valley in the 
land of Moab over against Beth-peor : but no man know- 
eth of his sepulchre unto this day." And the children 
of Israel mourned for him thirty days. 

240. JZevieiv of the Life and Character of Moses. 
— The life of the great legislator and deliverer of the 
Hebrews is divided into three distinct but equal periods 
of forty years each : first, when he was a student in the 
Egyptian court ; second, a shepherd in Midian ; and third, 
the leader and lawgiver of the Israelites during their no- 
mad state. He was born b. c. 1571, of Amram and Jo- 
chebed, of the tribe of Levi, and when an infant was 
exposed on the banks of the Nile, but rescued by the 
daughter of Pharaoh ; and during the first period of forty 
years he became " learned in all the wisdom of Egypt, 
and was mighty in words and deeds." Acts vii. 22. In- 
b. c. 1531, being forty years old, he slew an Egyptian 
and fled to Midian, where he led a shepherd's life for 
another forty years, and married Zipporah, daughter of 
Jcthro, by whom he had two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. 
In b. c. 1491, being eighty years old, he was called by 
the angel of the Lord from a burning bush to deliver the 
chosen people of God. The aged shepherd now stood 
before Pharaoh, and, inspired and assisted by Jehovah, 
he achieved the deliverance of his brethren from their 
tyrannical oppressors, and led them through the waves of 



132 DEUTERONOMY. b. c. 1451. 

the sea and the dangers of the wilderness to the land 
promised by the God of their fathers. The history of 
this period, his abode in the mount and breaking of the 
first tables of stone, the erection of the tabernacle and 
consecration of the priests and Levites, are too fully de- 
tailed in the preceding pages to require repetition. 

His Mission. — The part assigned to Moses was that 
of a deliverer, a leader, a legislator, and a prophet. As 
a deliverer, he was commissioned to emancipate a people 
oppressed by centuries of Egyptian slavery, and thus to 
typify that glorious Messiah who should deliver the world 
from the darkness of sin and the bondage of Satan. As 
a leader, he was appointed to guide the Hebrews through 
the wilderness into the land of promise, and thus to rep- 
resent those faithful ministers of God who in the latter 
times have preserved the Church against the dangers of 
the world and temptations of the devil. And, lastly, it 
was destined for him, as a legislator and a prophet, to 
promulgate to the seed of Abraham a mysterious and 
prophetic code of laws and ordinances which should puri- 
fy their hearts from sin and idolatry, elevate their intellec- 
tual character, and prefigure that wondrous gospel scheme 
which could alone save man from paying the just penalty 
of his disobedience and fall. 

241. Prophecies hi Deuteronomy. — The following 
remarkable prophecy relative to the Messiah was fulfilled 
1500 years after it had been delivered. The Lord said, 
" I will raise them up a prophet from among their breth- 
ren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth ; 
and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command 
him." Deut. xviii. 15-19. This is expressly applied to 
Jesus Christ in Acts hi. 22, 23, and vii. 37. Moses also 
plainly predicted the corruptions of the Hebrews, their 
subsequent calamities under their judges and kings, and 
the horrors of the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Koman do- 
minion. 

242. AutJienticify of the last Chapter of Deuter- 
onomy. — There are several passages in the Pentateuch, 
particularly some posthumous allusions, which many sup- 
pose to have been inserted by a more modern hand than 
Moses. Ezra is also thought to have added certain ex- 
planatory matter. The last chapter of Deuteronomy, 



B. c. 1451. DEUTERONOMY. 133 

describing the death of Moses, must have been written 
by Joshua or Samuel, or some other later prophet, but 
Ezra admits it as authentic. 

§ Canaan prior to its Conquest by the Israelites. 

243. Canaan. — Before entering upon the conquest of 
Canaan, it will be necessary to describe the country and 
bring together the scattered notices of its early history. 

244. Boundaries. — The natural boundaries* of Pal- 
estine Proper, or Canaan, as subsequently occupied by 
the twelve tribes, were as follows : North, the highlands 
of Syria, terminating in Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon, occu- 
pied by the Syrians, who were divided into numerous small 
states or cantons, and the Phoenicians. East, the desert 
of Syria, inhabited by the Ammonites, Moabites, A morites,^ 
and Midianites. South, Arabia Petrsea, peopled by the 
Edomites and Amalekites, who seem to have divided Pales- 
tine from Egypt. West, the Mediterranean Sea. % 

245. Description of t/ie Country. — The extreme 
length of Palestine is about one hundred and eighty 
miles ; its width in the north scarcely exceeds twenty 
miles, whilst on the south it has been variously estimated 
at from forty-five to sixty miles. Two sets of highlands 
range north and south, between which is the valley of 
the river Jordan, a very remarkable depression. The 
principal mountains in the western highlands are Carmel, 
Tabor, Gilboa, and Ebal or Gerizim ; those on the east 
of Jordan are Hermon and Gilead.§ The river Jordan 
seems like the natural centre of the country. It flows 
from the low grounds of Mount Hermon — the lofty peak 
which terminates Anti-Lebanon on the south — reaches 

* The political boundaries of the Jewish territory varied consider- 
ably at different periods. The kingdoms of David and Solomon ex- 
tended from the Euphrates to the Mediterranean, and from Phoenicia 
to the Red Sea; but the divided monarchies of Judah and Israel were 
usable to maintain the rule over this enlarged dominion. 

f Prior to the Hebrew conquest, the Amorites had extended into the 
interior of Canaan westward toward the Mediterranean. 

J For a description of these bordering nations, see the ''Introductory 
Outline of the History and (Jeography of the Countries noticed in the 
Old Testament." 

$ Mount Nebo, from which Moses viewed the land of promise, has 
not yet been satisfactorily identified. 

12 



134 DEUTERONOMY. b. c. 1451. 

first the waters of Merom and then the Sea of Chinne- 
roth, called also the Sea of Gennesareth, from whence it 
precipitates itself down a succession of rapids into the 
Dead Sea, the waters of which are calculated to be more 
than 1300 feet below the level of the Mediterranean. 
From both sides of the western highlands several streams 
run into the Mediterranean and into the Jordan, but are 
nowhere navigable or of any magnitude. The most im- 
portant of these is the river Kishon, which falls into the 
sea north of Carmel. On its eastern side the Jordan 
receives the river Yarmuk just below the Sea of Gen- 
nesareth, and the river Jabbok north of Mount Gilead ; 
whilst still farther southward the river Arnon falls into 
the Dead Sea. 

246. Early Inhabitants, — The descendants of Ca- 
naan, youngest son of Ham, appear to have originally 
settled in Arabia, but a branch of them seems to have 
migrated to Canaan some time before the arrival of Abra- 
ham. The Canaanites were thus divided into three dis- 
tinct classes — viz. 

247. 1st, Canaanites of Arabia — AmaleJcites, — 
These comprehended those Canaanites who remained in 
Arabia and formed a numerous people, and of whom in 
the seventh century there were distinguished families still 
in existence. They are called AmaleJcites in the Scrip- 
tures, but could not be descendants of Amalek, grandson 
of Esau, as they are mentioned as having long before his 
time inhabited the southern boundaries of Canaan, and 
Balaam calls them one of the most ancient nations and 
their king the most powerful monarch that he knew. 
Num. xxiv. 20. They subsequently led a nomad life on 
the southern borders of Palestine. 

248. 2d, Canaanites of Sidon — Phoenicians, — These 
Canaanites took possession of the northern coasts of Ca- 
naan, together with a strip of land between Lebanon and 
the Mediterranean. They subsequently became the great 
merchants and navigators of the ancient world, and ap- 
pear to have continued on terms of friendship with the 
Israelites.* 



* Herodotus also says that, the Phoenicians originally migrated from 
the coasts of the Erythraean or Red Sea. (i. 1.) 






B. c. 1451. DEUTERONOMY. 135 

249. 3d. Canaanites who occupied Palestine. — 

These seem to have been divided into several races, and 
to have established at least thirty-one small kingdoms, 
which were, however, united in more than one confed- 
eracy by conquest or alliance. Between the period of 
Abraham and that of Moses they appear to have greatly 
degenerated, for we read of no successor to Melchizedek 
as priest of the most high God. (See sects. 25, 261.) 

250. Philistines. — These were not Canaanites, but 
originally Egyptians from the Pelusiac branch of the 
Nile. They migrated from Caphtor [Cyprus], and ex- 
pelled the Avim, or Hivites, from the low country in 
Southern Palestine, and there established five govern- 
ments, or lordships, in five cities. 

251. Palestine the Highway between Egypt and 
the Asiatic Empires. — A remarkable peculiarity of 
Palestine consisted in its being the highway for armies 
between Egypt and all the great countries of Western 
Asia. In the time of Jacob we find his sons selling 
Joseph to a caravan of Ishmaelite merchants who were 
passing through the country on their way to Egypt, and 
in the time of Josiah the army of Pharaoh-Necho was 
obliged to march through Palestine on the way to the 
Euphrates. 



136 JOSHUA I. b. c. 1451. 

THE TWELVE 

HISTORICAL BOOKS. 

[THESE CONSIST OF JOSHUA, JUDGES, RUTH, 1 AND 2 SAMUEL, 1 
AND 2 KINGS, 1 AND 2 CHRONICLES, EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND 
ESTHER— See Introduction.] 



JOSHUA. 

(The Acts of Joshua, supposed to be partly written by Joshua.) 

HISTORY OP THE CONQUEST OP CANAAN AND SETTLEMENT IN THE COUNTRY 
UNDER JOSHUA. B. C. 1451 TO 1426.— ABOUT 25 YEARS. 



ANALYSIS. 
I. Conquest of Canaan. 
Previous life of Joshua, 1536-1451. — Sends spies to Jericho, 
1451. — Crosses the Jordan. — Circumcision re-established. — Manna 
ceases. — Jericho taken. — Ai taken ; Achan's sin. — Gibeonites craft- 
ily persuade Joshua to an alliance. — Defeat of Adonizedek and his 
four allied kings ; sun and moon stand still. — Defeat of the north- 
ern kings; Anakims destroyed. — Seven years' war; thirty-one 
kings subdued page 136 

II. Settlement in Canaan. 
Tabernacle set up in Shiloh, 1444. — Division of the country 
amongst the twelve tribes. — Districts given to Caleb and Joshua. 
— Tribes east of the Jordan sent home ; misunderstanding with 
their brethren. — Death of Joshua, 1426 ; burial of Joseph's bones ; 
death of Eleazar. — Election of princes or elders. — Account of the 
" Book of Jasher." page 141 



SUMMARY. 

I. Conquest of Canaan. 

252. Previous Life of Joshua, 1536-1451. — 

Joshua,* the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, was 

* Joshua's first name was Hosea, or Oshea, but Moses changed it to 
Jehoshua, or Joshua. Num. xiii. 16. Hosea signifies " a savior," or 



b. c. 1451. JOSHUA T.-III. 137 

born about b. c. 1536 ; he is commonly called the ser- 
vant of Moses. His first exploit was defeating the Amal- 
ekites (sect. 105) ; he is soon afterward mentioned as hav- 
ing accompanied Moses up Mount Sinai (sect. 109) ; and 
he also seems to have had the care of the tabernacle, and 
to have dwelt in or near it. Ex. xxxiii. 11. He was sub- 
sequently sent with Caleb and ten others to spy out Ca- 
naan, and for their pious expression of confidence in 
Jehovah he and Caleb only of that generation were 
permitted to enter the Promised Land. After the death 
of Moses he took command of the Israelites, having been 
previously installed into it by the dying legislator at the 
command of Jehovah. Josh. i. 

253. Sends Spies to Jerielio, 14:51. — Joshua now 
made immediate preparations for the conquest of Ca- 
naan. He led the Israelites to Shittim, on the eastern 
bank of the Jordan, from whence he sent two spies to 
Jericho to view the land. The king of Jericho heard 
of their coming, but Rahab, the harlot, hid them in her 
house under some flax-stalks, and at night let them down 
from her window by a rope, for her house was upon the 
town-wall. In return for this favor, the spies promised 
that if she would hang a scarlet line from her window 
when they took the city she and her household should 
be preserved. Josh. ii. 

254. Crosses the Jordan. — On the return of the spies, 
Joshua and all the Israelites approached the Jordan, 
whilst the ark was borne by the priests 2000 cubits 
[1216 yards] in advance; and when the feet of the ark- 
bearers touched the water the Jordan rose up on a heap, 
so that the Israelites passed over on dry ground, and en- 
camped at Gilgal, opposite Jericho. The priests re- 
mained with the ark in the centre of the river until all 
the people had passed over ; after which twelve men, 
one from every tribe, took each a stone from the place 
where the priests stood, and the twelve stones were after- 
ward pitched at Gilgal as a memorial of the miracle. 
The priests then passed over, and the waters immedi- 
ately flowed on as before. This occurred within five 

" he will save," but Jkhosiiiia signifies " the salvation of God," or " God 
will save." He is also called JESUS in St. Luke and Eeclesiasticus, 
which has a similar meaning to "Jehoshua." 

12* 



138 JOSHUA IV.-VI. b. c. 1451. 

days of the forty years which had expired since they 
came out from Egypt. Josh. iii. ; iv. 

255. Circumcision re-established; Manna ceases, 
— At Gilgal, Joshua was ordered to circumcise all the 
Israelites, which rite had been neglected during the 
whole forty years' wanderings. The passover was now 
kept, and, the forty years being completed, the manna 
ceased to fall. It was about this time that an angel ap- 
peared to Joshua with a drawn sword in his hand, an- 
nounced himself as the captain of the host of the Lord, 
and said to him the same words that Moses had heard 
from the burning bush at Horeb : " Loose thy shoe from 
off thy foot, for the place whereon thou standest is holy." 
And Joshua fell on his face and worshipped. Josh. v. 

256. Jericho taken, 1451. — Joshua now proceeded 
to besiege Jericho, which lay about six miles from the 
Jordan, and about twenty miles north-east from Jerusa- 
lem. Having encompassed the city, it was at length 
taken by a miracle. At God's command, the whole of 
the people marched in solemn silence round the walls 
once a day for six days, accompanied by the ark and 
seven priests sounding seven trumpets of rams' horns. 
On the seventh clay they marched round seven times in 
the same manner, but the seventh time the whole of 
the people suddenly shouted at the command of Joshua, 
w T hen the walls fell flat down before the tremendous ac- 
clamations, and the multitude marched immediately into 
the city. Jericho was then taken and utterly destroyed, 
and all its inhabitants, except Rahab and her family 
(sect. 253), were put to the sword. Deut. vii. 2. The 
city itself was burnt with fire, and Joshua adjured the 
people, saying, " Cursed be the man before the Lord that 
riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho : he shall lay the 
foundation thereof in his first-born, and in his youngest 
son shall he set up the gates of it." Josh. vi. This proph- 
ecy was fulfilled in the reign of Ahab, king of Israel, about 
B. c. 925. Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho, and his 
first-born, Abiram, died whilst he was laying the foun- 
dation, and Segub, the youngest, died whilst his father 
was setting up the gates. 1 Kings xvi. 34. 

257. Ai taken; Achan's Sin. — Joshua now despatched 
spies to Ai, which lay about ten or twelve miles from Jer- 



b. c. 1451. JOSHUA VIL-IX. 139 

icho, and, finding that the city was small, he sent only 
3000 men against it, and these were defeated and thirty- 
six of them slain. Joshua prayed to God, and by casting 
lots he discovered that Achan, an Israelite of the tribe of 
Judah, had sinned against Jehovah ; and Achan then con- 
fessed that he had hidden in his tent a Babylonian gar- 
ment, with two hundred silver shekels [91 oz. = £22 15s. 
4c/.] and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels [22f oz. 
= £91 Is. 5d], which he had taken from the spoils of 
Jericho. He and his family were stoned to death, and 
afterward burned in the valley of Achor — i. e. " trouble.' 
Joshua afterward prepared to take Ai. He posted 5000 
men in ambush west of the city, between Ai and Bethel, 
and then advanced with a larger force against the northern 
side. The king and citizens sallied out against Joshua, 
who, counterfeiting a flight, drew the enemy farther from 
the city, when the 5000 men in ambush entered Ai and 
fired it. Joshua then turned back upon the men of Ai 
and utterly defeated them ; 12,000 were slain, the king 
was hung, and the city burnt and made a heap of desola- 
tion, but the cattle and spoils the Israelites were permit- 
ted to divide amongst themselves. Josh. vii. ; viii. 

258. Gibeonites craftily persuade Joshua to an 
Alliance. — The Gibeonites, whose city lay only about 
eight miles south-west of Ai, were now alarmed at the 
reports of Joshua's successes. Accordingly, knowing that 
the Israelites would not ally with the inhabitants of Ca- 
naan, they sent ambassadors disguised as men who had 
travelled from a far country. These envoys assured 
Joshua that they came from a distant people, who, hav- 
ing heard what wonders God had wrought for the He- 
brews, desired the friendship and alliance of so favored a 
nation ; and for the truth of this statement they appealed 
to their dry and mouldy bread, to the rent skins which 
contained their wine, and to their worn-out clothes and 
sandals, all of which they vowed to have been new when 
they commenced their journey. Accordingly, Joshua 
and the princes of the congregation — i. e. the national 
assembly (see sect. 134) — leagued with the Gibeonites 
" to let them live," without asking counsel " at the mouth 
of the Lord." Three days afterward the Israelites came 
to their four cities, Gibeoii, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kir- 



140 JOSHUA X. b.c. 1451. 

jath-jearim, and discovered the falsehood. The Israelites 
now murmured, but their princes would not break their 
word, and Joshua reduced the Gibeonites to bondage and 
made them hewers of wood and drawers of water to the 
tabernacle. (See " Nethinim," sect. 165.) Josh. ix. 

259. Defeat of Adonizedek and his four allied 
Kings; Sun stands still. — The princes of the numer- 
ous small states of different races who occupied Southern 
Palestine now saw the necessity for energetic measures. 
Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem, having heard of Joshua's 
victories and league with the Gibeonites, sought to dissolve 
this powerful alliance, and accordingly sent to four auxil- 
iary or vassal kings — viz. Hoham, king of Hebron, Piram, 
king of Jarmuth, Japhia, king of Lachish, and Debir, 
king of Eglon, to assist him in attacking Gibeon. The 
Gibeonites sent to Joshua, who immediately marched with 
his victorious Hebrews to their assistance. The army of 
the five kings was routed with a great slaughter ; a hail- 
storm from heaven cut off more of the enemy than fell 
by the sword, and the day was prolonged — or, in the 
words of the inspired historian, " the sun and moon mi- 
raculously stood still" — for twelve or fourteen hours, to 
enable the Israelites to prolong the pursuit. The five 
kings fled to the cave at Makkedah, where they were 
taken prisoners and slain and hung upon five trees, and 
their cities and territories were soon afterward taken and 
desolated. This brilliant victory was followed by the re- 
duction of Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Debir, and Hebron 
in rapid succession, together with the Anakims in the 
neighborhood ; and thus was completed the conquest of 
nearly all Southern Palestine. Josh, x.* 

260. Defeat of the Northern Kings. — The northern 
kings were now aroused by the successes of these terrible 
and mysterious invaders. Jabin, king of Hazor, organ- 
ized a powerful league amongst the surrounding princes, 
and assembled an immense host, provided with chariots 
and cavalry, by the Waters of Merom, north of the Sea 
of Chinneroth or Galilee. But Joshua penetrated to 
Upper Galilee by rapid marches, and, falling upon the 

* The writer of the book of Joshua quotes the Book of Jasher in 
confirmation of the miracle of the sun's standing still. (See sect. 269.) 



b. c. 1451-1445. JOSHUA XI., XII. 141 

combined forces by surprise, he routed them with immense 
slaughter and burnt their chariots and hamstrung their 
horses. The reduction of their cities quickly followed, 
and thus the Israelites became the predominant power in 
Northern and Southern Palestine. Josh. xi. 

261. Seven Years' War; Thirty-one Kings sub- 
dued, 1451-1445. — For seven years Joshua pro- 
ceeded with his conquests, during which he subdued 
thirty-one kings belonging to seven nations — viz. Am- 
orites, Canaanites, Girgashites, Hittites, Hivites, Jebusites, 
and Perizzites. A list of the thirty-one kings may be 
found in Josh. xii. 9-24. A desultory war had yet to be 
carried on with some scattered cities and tracts still occu- 
pied by the Canaanites, Jebusites, Philistines, Sidonians, 
Geshurites, Maachathites, and others, but the country was 
soon divided by lot amongst the several tribes, and each 
was left to expel its own enemies. Josh. xii. 

II. Settlement in Canaan. 

262. Tabernacle set uj> in Shiloh, 1444. — The tab- 
ernacle was now removed from Gilgal, and the whole con- 
gregation of Israel assembled at Shiloh, a city of Ephraim, 
to which tribe Joshua belonged, and fixed it there as a 
sign of rest. Josh, xviii. 1 . The tabernacle remained at 
Shiloh for three hundred and fifty years, when it was 
taken by the Philistines in the time of Eli. 1 Sam. iv. 10, 
11. God had previously commanded this setting up of 
the tabernacle : " When ye go over Jordan, and dwell in 
the land, . . . then there shall be a place which the 
Lord your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell 
there ; thither shall ye bring all that I command you ; 
your burnt-offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and 
the heave-offering of your hand, and all your choice vows 
which ye vow unto the Lord." Deut. xii. 10, 11. Jere- 
miah afterward in prophesying against Judah, after Israel 
had been desolated by the Assyrians, says, " Then will I 
make this house [the temple] like Shiloh, and will make 
this city [Jerusalem] a curse to all the nations of the 
earth." Jer. vii. 14 ; xxvi. 6. 

263. Division of the Country amongst the Twelve 
Tribes. — Joshua now divided the newly-conquered terri- 



142 JOSHUA XII.-XXI. b. c. 1444. 

tory, by lot, into twelve parts ; for, though the descendants 
of Joseph were divided into the two tribes of Ephraim 
and Manasseh, yet no territory was assigned to Levi ; the 
tithes alone were their inheritance, and forty-eight cities 
taken by lot from the districts of their brethren were ap- 
pointed for their abode. The twelve tribes occupied the 
following portions of territory — viz. : 

East of the Jordan. 

1. Reuben, the southernmost portion, being bounded 
on the south by Moab and the river Arnon, on the east 
by the Ammonites, and on the west by the Jordan and 

Salt Sea. 

o n , ., n t> i "I These two tribes were sit- 

2. Gad, north of Keuben. , -, i , ,, T 

o Tv/r n u\ ±i.-l uated between the J or- 

3. Manasseh (A«{f), north U ^ ^ Ammonite 

J and Syrian territories. 

West of the Jordan. 

4. Judah, the southernmost portion, being bounded on 
the east by the Salt Sea, on the south by Edom and the 
desert of Shur, on the west by Simeon and Dan, and on 
the north by Benjamin. 

5. Simeon, south-west of Palestine, and between Judah 
and the Mediterranean Sea. 

6. Dan, north of Simeon, and also between Judah and 
the Mediterranean. 

7. Benjamin, an inland territory, north of Judah. 

8. Ephraim, north of Benjamin. 

* Manasseh (half) north of Ephraim. 

9. IssACHAR, north of Manasseh. 

10. Zebulun, north of Issachar. 

11. Naphtali, north of Zebulun, between Asher and 
the Jordan. 

12. Asher, north of Zebulun, between Naphtali and 
the Mediterranean. Josh. xii. ; xiii. ; xv.-xix. ; xxi. 

264. Districts given to Caleb and Joshua. — Caleb, 
the son of Jephunneh, who, with Joshua, had been pre- 

* For the other half of Manasseh see " Tribes East of the Jordan." 



b. c. 1426. JOSHUA XXIL-XXIV. 143 

served for his pious conduct after spying out Canaan, was 
now presented with Mount Hebron, as Moses had sworn 
to him that the land on which his feet trod when he spied 
out Canaan should be the inheritance of himself and his 
children for ever. Caleb then drove out the three sons of 
Anak — Sheshai, Talmai, and Ahiman — from Hebron, and 
gave his own daughter Achsah to be wife of his nephew 
Othniel, because the latter took the city of Debir or Kir- 
jath-sepher. The Israelites also gave Timnath-serah in 
Mount Ephraim to Joshua for an inheritance. Josh. xiv. 
6-15 ; xv. 13-19 ; xix. 49-51. 

265. Tribes east of the Jordan sent Home; mis- 
understanding with their Brethren. — The tribes of 
Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh now re- 
turned to the country assigned them east of the Jordan. 
On the banks of the river they erected an altar as a me- 
morial of their connection 'with the other nine and a 
half tribes ; but the latter, suspecting that the altar was 
buiLt for sacrifice, followed them, and a civil war would 
have commenced had not the affair been at once ex- 
plained. Josh. xxii. 

266. Last Bays of Joshua. — The military career of 
Joshua was now concluded. The remainder of his life 
was devoted to the settlement of the theocratic policy and 
preservation of the worship of Jehovah. He convened 
two general assemblies, in the first of which he exhorted 
the elders to be faithful to God and obedient to his law ; 
and in the second he proclaimed the might of the God of 
Israel, and called upon the people to elect him for their 
King and cast away idolatry. He then set up a stone as 
a testimony of their homage, and wrote the covenant in 
the book of the law. Josh, xxiii. ; xxiv. 1-28. 

267. Beath of Joshua, 1426 ; Burial of Joseph's 
Bones; Beath of Eleazar. — Joshua the son of Nun 
died b. c. 1426, at the supposed age of one hundred and 
ten years,* and was buried in his inheritance on Mount 
Ephraim. " Arid Israel served the Lord all the days of 
Joshua and all the days of the elders that over-lived him." 
The bones of Joseph, which had been brought up from 



* The difficulty of ascertaining the precise chronology here renders 
any statement of the exact age of Joshua uncertain. 



144 JOSHUA XXIV. b. c. 1426. 

Egypt, were also buried in the field which Jacob had 
bought of the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. 
About this time also Eleazar the son of Aaron died (cir. 
B. c. 1420), and was buried in a field belonging to his son 
Phinehas. Josh. xxiv. 29-33. 

268. Election of Princes or Elders. — After the 
death of Joshua each tribe chose a prince or elder to 
govern them, according to the injunction of Moses. Ex. 
xviii. 13-26 ; Deut. i. 13. (See sect. 133.) 

269. Booh of Jasher. — The writer of the book of 
Joshua, in confirmation of the truth of the sun and moon's 
standing still, refers to the book of Jasher (Josh. x. 13), 
a work which is also quoted in 2 Sam. i. 18. Some 
think that this book is the same as the " Book of the 
Wars of the Lord," mentioned in Numbers ; others, that 
it is the book of Genesis ; and others, that it is the Penta- 
teuch. It is probable that from the beginning persons 
were employed among the Hebrews to write the national 
annals, which were then lodged in the tabernacle or 
temple, and respectively called the " Book of the Wars of 
the Lord," the " Book of Jasher " (EvOoc, or the upright), 
and when they referred to the times of the kings were 
called the " Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel 
or Judah." The book of Jasher has been thought to 
have been a collection of poetical compositions. Jasher — 
" the upright " — may signify the standard, authentic book, 
or it may merely imply that it is a record of upright men. 
(See Calmet, art. " Bible.") 



i. c. 1425. JUDGES. 145 



JUDGES. 

(Supposed to be written by Samuel.) 

HISTORY OF THE JEtf'S AS A FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC. B. C. H25 TO 1095. 
ABOUT 330 YEARS. 

[The book of Judges does not contain the judgeships of Eli 
and Samuel and his sons, but concludes about B. c. 1112, 
extending over a period of three hundred and thirteen 
years; but it has been thought advisable to include in 
this portion the first ten chapters of 1 Samuel, which will 
complete the History of the Judges. (See pp. 158-lbl .) 
It is stated (Acts xiii. 20) that this period — viz. from the 
death of Joshua to the anointing of Saul — extended to 
four hundred and fifty years ; which calculation is thought 
to include the one hundred and twenty years under Saul, 
David, and Solomon. But certain inaccuracies have crept 
into the chronology of the time of the Judges which it is 
impossible to correct. 

The whole chronology of the time of the Judges is more ob- 
scure than that of any other period of Scripture history, 
which can, however, be somewhat explained by the suppo- 
sition that in many cases the servitudes and judgeships 
extended over only a portion of Palestine, and therefore 
contemporary judges and tyrants were by no means un- 
frequent. As this theory has been generally adopted by 
chronologers, it is illustrated in the table on p. 148. J 



ANALYSIS. 

I. Period prior to the Judges. 

Prosecution of the conquest of Canaan by the separate tribes, 

142"). — Introduction of idolatry, 1425-1408. — Idolatry of Micali, 

Moti. — War witli Benjamin. — Six hundred Benjarnites forcibly 

obtain wives P^ge 143. 



SUMMARY. 

I. Period prior to the Judges. 

270. Prosecution of the Conquest of Canaan by 

the Separate Tribes, 14=2, j. — After the death of Joshua 

the conquest of Canaan was prosecuted by the separate 

tribes, and that of Jndah, having been chosen by lot to 

attack the Canaanites, joined itself to that of Simeon. 

13 K 



146 JUDGES I.-XVIII. b. c. 1425-1406. 

The two tribes slew 10,000 men of Bezek and utterly de- 
feated Adonibezek the king, and cut off his thumbs and 
great toes and brought him to Jerusalem, which city had 
been previously taken from the Jebusites, by whom it had 
been called Jebus. Adonibezek acknowledged having 
deprived seventy other kings of their thumbs and great 
toes and obliged them to gather their meat under his 
table. The other tribes were equally successful against 
other Canaanite nations, but they made the idolaters 
tributary instead of utterly expelling them, as they had 
been expressly commanded, and they gradually suffered 
their children to intermarry with them, which had been 
as expressly forbidden. Judg. i. ; iii. 7, 8. 

271. Introduction of Idolatry, 1425-1406.— The 
consequences of this ill-judged lenity to their enemies 
were ruinous alike to the religion and liberties of the next 
generation of Israelites. Their connections with the Ca- 
naanites naturally prevented them from expelling their 
idolatrous relatives; it led them to festivals where not 
only lascivious songs were sung in honor of the gods, but 
where gross debaucheries were part of the divine service, 
until at length a vile idolatry which chiefly recommended 
itself by pandering to sensual appetites and depraved 
tastes spread through the land like a deadly plague, and 
weakened the energy and quenched the spirit of the seed 
of Abraham. The infatuated Hebrews transferred to Baal 
and Ashtaroth the honors due to Jehovah, and a most gross 
example of idolatry is recorded as having taken place with- 
in twenty years of the death of Joshua. Judg. ii. 

272. idolatry of Micah, 1406. — Micah, a native 
of Mount Ephraim, had stolen eleven hundred silver 
shekels [500 oz., or £125] from his mother, but subse- 
quently restored her the money, upon which she gave 
two hundred of the shekels (91 oz. = £22 15s.) to a 
founder to make a graven and a molten image. Micah, 
then, "had a house of gods, and made an ephod and 
teraphim," and first consecrated one of his sons to be 
priest, but afterward hired a young Levite. Soon after 
this the Danites sent five men to spy out Laish, in North- 
ern Palestine, who in passing lodged at the house of 
Micah. Their report of Laish being favorable, six hun- 
dred Danites marched on to conquer it, and, passing by 



b. c. 1406. JUDGES XIX.-XXI. 147 

Micah's house, the spies told them of his idols, upon 
which they forcibly carried off both images and Levite, 
and, having taken Laish and called it Dan, they carried 
on there the worship of the stolen gods. Judg. xvii. ; xviii. 

273. War tvith Benjamin, ItlOG. — The same year 
all Israel was aroused by a horrible tragedy enacted in 
the country of Benjamin, which but too plainly indicated 
the fearful increase of idolatry and debauchery. A 
woman was murdered in the streets of Gibeah amid 
circumstances of the most revolting barbarity, and her 
injured husband divided the corpse into twelve portions 
and sent one to each tribe. The people assembled from 
Dan to Beersheba to avenge the outrage, but Benjamin 
refused to give up the perpetrators, aud three bloody 
battles were the result. Twice were the other eleven 
tribes defeated Avith immense slaughter before Gibeah ; 
but on the third day they placed an ambush beside 
Gibeah, who entered and burnt the city whilst the Benja- 
mites were drawn from it to engage their main army. 
The eleven tribes thus gained a complete victory. Gibeah 
was burnt to the ground* and 25,000 Benjamites were 
slain, whilst only six hundred of their number escaped 
from the field of battle. Judg. xix. ; xx. 

274. The Benjamites forcibly obtain Wives. — The 
six hundred Benjamites now fled to the Rock Rimmon 
and abode there four months, w T hilst the Israelites de- 
stroyed all their cities and possessions. The eleven tribes 
also swore not to give their daughters in marriage to the 
survivors ; but soon repented their oath, by which the 
tribe of Benjamin must soon cease to exist. Soon after, 
12,000 of their number fell upon Jabesh-gilead, destroyed 
the inhabitants, but saved four hundred of their virgins 
and sent them to be wives to the Benjamites on Kock 
Bimmon ; and, as the number was found to be insufficient, 
they subsequently directed the Benjamites to lie in wait 
in the vineyards round Shiloh, where there was to be a 
feast ; and whilst the daughters of Shiloh were dancing 
the Benjamites rushed in and carried them off to be wives 
for the remainder. The Benjamites then returned to 
their own territory and rebuilt all their cities. Judg. xxi. 

* Gibeah was subsequently rebuilt, and became the residence of 
Saul. 



148 



JUDGES. 



b. c. 1425. 



THE SEVEN SERVITUDES OR TYRANNIES, AND THE FIFTEEN 
JUDGESHIPS. 



CANAAN GENERALLY. 

B. c. yrs. 

1. Cushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, tyrant . . . 1402-1394 8 
I. Othniel, uephew of Caleb and married his daughter, judged, 1394-1354 40 



SOUTHERN CANAAN. 

b. c. yrs. 
2. Eglon of Moab, tyrant 1354-1336 18 

2. Ehud, stabbed Eglou 1336-1296 

3. Philistines, tyrants . 1296 
3. Shamgar, slew six 

hundred Philis- 
tines with au ox- 
goad . . . 1206-1256 
Under Ehud and 
Shamgar the land 
rested 



?0 



NORTHERN CANAAN. 

Jabin of Hazor, loilh 
nine hundred iron 
chariots, tyrant . 1316-1296 20 

Deborah and Ba- 
rak, defeated Sise- 
ra, who was slain 
by Jael the Ken- 
ite; judged . .1296-1256 40 



CANAAN GENERALLY. 
5. Midianites, Amalekites, and others ; tyrannized . 

5. Gideon: called by God ; throws down Baal's altar; gains a 

victory with three hundred men, each bearing a trumpet, 
pitcher, and torch ; 120,000 slain ; Oreb and Zeeb beheaded ; 
Zebah and Zalmuuna slain ; makes an ephod; judged 

6. Abimelech slays his seventy brethren; Jotham's apologue 

of the trees; Shechemites rebel; burns Berith's temple ; 
killed by a millstone ; judged 

7. Tola, judged 

8. Jair, judged 1183-116123 

SOUTHERN CANAAN. 



1256-1249 7 



1249-1209 40 



1209-1206 2 
1206-1183 23 



EAST OF JORDAN. 

B. c. yrs. 
6. Ammonites, tyrants 1161-1143 18 

9. Jephthah, defeated 

the Ammonites; 
slew 42,000 Eph- 
raimites, who said 
Sibboleth for Shib- 
boleth ; vows his 
daughter; judged 1143-1137 6 

10. Ibzan, judged . . 1137-1130 7 

11. Eion, judged . .1130-1120 10 

12. Abdon, judged . 1120-1112 8 



SOUTH-WESTERN CANAAN. 



3. Samson, born 1161; 
marries a woman 
of Timnath; his 
riddle ; burns Phil- 
istine corn with 
three hundred fox- 
tails ; slays one 
thousand men with 
jaw-bone of an ass ; 
carries off the gates 
of Gaza; treacher- 
ously given up by 
Delilah; pulls down 
Dagon's temple; 
judged . . . 1141-1120 20 . 

Samuel's Sons judged the land, but exasperated the people by 
their cupidity 

The people at length forced Samuel to anoint Saul as king 



(History continued from 1 Sam. i.-x., which 
completes the Judges.) 

7. Philistines, tyrants, 
during Samson and 
part of Eli and 
Samuel. (See 13.) 

14. Eli, judged, previ- 

ous to Samson and 

contemporary 

with Jair and 

Jephthah . . 1181-1141 40 

His two sons slain. 

15. Samuel, born 1171, 
judged . . . 1141-1112 29 

Contemporary with 
Jephthah, Ibzan, 
Eton, and Abdon, 
east of Jordan, 
and with Samson, 
who appears to 
have been more of 
a border chieftain 
against the Phil- 
istines than a 
judge. 



1112-1095 
1095 



N. B.— In the above table the Tyrants are printed in Italics, and the 
numbers of their succession in Roman; the Judges in bold. 



B. c. 1394-1256. JUDGES III. 149 

II. The Seven Servitudes, or Tyrannies, and Fifteen 
Judgeships. 

Canaan Generally, 1402-1354. 

275. First Judgeship : Othniel, forty First Servi _ 
years, 1394-1354. — Jehovah now prepared tude: cushan- 
to punish the national treachery of Israel with Mesopotamia, 
national misfortunes. Cushan - rishathaim, HsfiZSP™* 
king oi Mesopotamia — i. e. .radan-aram, a 
territory lying east of the Euphrates, and perhaps at this 
time including Syria — advanced to Canaan and made the 
Hebrews tributary. They endured the yoke for eight 
years, when they cried unto the Lord, and Othniel, a 
nephew of the celebrated Caleb (sect. 264), overthrew 
the Mesopotamian king and judged the people for forty 
years. Judg. iii. 1-11. 

Southern Canaan, 1354-1256. 

276. Second Judgeship : Ehud, eighty second Servi- 
years, 1336-1256.— -After the death of tude^Eglon 
Othniel the Hebrews again fell into idolatry, Eighteen yrs., 
when Eglon, king of Moab, having allied with 1354-1336. 
the Ammonites and Amalekites, succeeded in defeating 
them, and established himself in Jericho — i. e. the city of 
palm trees — and oppressed the land for eighteen years. 
The deliverer on the present occasion was Ehud, a left- 
handed Benjamite, who being sent with a present to 
Eglon, assassinated the king in his summer parlor, and, 
assembling the people by the sound of the trumpet, 
delivered Israel by the slaughter of 10,000 Moabites. 
The land now rested for eighty years. Judg. iii. 12-30. 

277. Third Judgeship; Shamgar. — Dur- servi- 
ing the last-mentioned period of eighty years' tude: the 
rest the Philistines attacked the southern P1 ' lhstllies - 
tribes, but were repulsed with great slaughter by Sham- 
gar, son of Anath, who slew six hundred of them with an 
ox-goad.* Judg. iii. 31. 

* The Philistines were not Canaanites, but originally Egyptians 
from the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, and they had migrated from 
Caphtor [Cyprus] before the arrival of the Hebrews, and expelled the 
Avim [Ilivites] from the low country in Southern Palestine, and there 

13* 



150 JUDGES IV., V. B. c. 1296-1209. 



Fourth Servi 
tude: Jabin 



Northern Canaan, 1316-1256. 

278. Fourth Judgeship: Barak and 
Twenty years, Deborah, forty years, 1296-1256, — Dur- 
ing the same period of eighty years' partial 
rest, the northern Canaanites had regained their power, 
and were commissioned by Jehovah to punish the idolatry 
of the neighboring Hebrews. A new Jabin, king, like 
his predecessor, of Hazor (sect. 260), was enabled by a 
numerous army and nine hundred chariots of iron to 
oppress the northern Israelites for twenty years. At 
length Deborah the prophetess, and wife of Lapidoth, sat 
under a palm between Ramah and Bethel and judged 
Israel. She aroused the courage of Barak, and sent him 
at the head of 10,000 men against Sisera, general of 
Jabin's army, who had posted his chariots and troops 
between Harosheth and the river Kishon. Barak refused 
to march unless Deborah accompanied him ; accordingly, 
she herself animated his army by her presence, and 
strengthened it by her promises of victory. The army 
of Barak poured down the sides of Mount Tabor and 
routed the forces of Jabin with immense slaughter. The 
Canaanites never recovered from the blow, and their* 
general, Sisera, on taking refuge in a tent from the field 
of battle, fell asleep, and was slain by Jael, wife of 
Heber the Kenite, who drove a nail through his temples. 
Deborah afterward composed a song of thanksgiving, 
which she and Barak sang, and in which she gave due 
honor to God and blessed the action of Jael. After this 
the land had rest forty years. Judg. iv. ; v. ; Ps. 
lxxxiii. 9. 

Canaan Generally, 1256-1161. 

Fiide h Midian- 279 ' Fi f th Judgeship: Gideon, forty 
itU! Amale- " years, 1249-1209. — During the seven years 
Sel?n years, following the eighty years' rest the Midianites 
1256-12W. ' united with the Amalekites and other nomad 
Arabs, and entered Palestine in great numbers and plun- 
dered and rioted without restraint, whilst fields, gardens, 
and vineyards were trampled and destroyed by their 

founded five governments or lordships — viz., at Ekron, Gath, Askelon, 
Ashdod, and Gaza. 



B.C. 1209. JUDGES VI.-VIII. 151 

countless herds. The suffering Israelites again cried unto 
the Lord, and a deliverer was sent. 

280. Throws down the Altar of Baal. — Gideon, the 
son of Joash the Abi-ezrite, and a native of Ophrah in 
Manasseh, was threshing wheat by the winepress to hide 
it from the invaders when an angel appeared and called 
upon him to deliver Israel in the name of the Lord. A 
miraculous fire, which burnt up a kid and unleavened 
bread, proved the divine origin of the mission, and 
Gideon threw down the altar of Baal, which procured 
him the name of Jerubbaal — i. e. " let Baal plead " — and 
prepared to levy an army. A fleece, at first wet with 
dew whilst the earth was dry, and then the next night 
dry whilst the earth was wet, furnished another proof of 
the determination of Jehovah to deliver his people. 

281. Defeats the Mldianites, etc, with three 
hundred men bearing Trumpets, Pitchers, and 
Torches. — Gideon immediately advanced on the enemy 
with 32,000 men, whom, by the direction of God, he 
reduced to 10,000 by sending home all who were fearful, 
and again to three hundred by selecting only those who 
in drinking lapped water with their tongues. He now 
directed each of the three hundred to carry a trumpet in 
one hand and a pitcher containing a lighted torch in the 
other ; and, dividing his small band into three companies, 
he approached the Midianite host, who were encamped 
like a vast army of grasshoppers in the valley of Jezreel. 
The three divisions then blew their trumpets and broke 
their pitchers, and with loud cries of " The sword of the 
Lord and of Gideon !" they fell upon the enemy whilst 
the darkness of midnight was broken by the glare of 
torches. The invaders were smitten with an uncontrol- 
lable panic. They fled in the utmost trepidation, and 
slew each other in their confusion. Fresh forces of the 
Israelites joined in the pursuit or guarded the fords of 
the Jordan, and 120,000 of the enemy were slain, and 
their two princes, Oreb and Zeeb, taken and beheaded by 
the Ephraimites — Oreb on the rock Oreb, and Zeeb at 
the winepress of Zeeb — and their heads wer^ taken 
beyond Jordan to Gideon. Meantime, Gideon crossed 
the Jordan with his three hundred, and pursued a flying 
remnant of 15,000 under the two Midianite kings Zebah 



152 JUDGES IX. b. c. 1209-1206. 

and Zalmunna. At Succoth* the elders refused him 
refreshment, but he defeated the 15,000, took Zebah and 
Zalmunna, and, finding that they had murdered his own 
brethren at Tabor, he slew them with his own hand. On 
his return he chastised the seventy-seven Succoth princes 
with thorns and briers. An allusion is made to the two 
kings of Midian in Ps. lxxxiii. 11. 

282. Refuses to be King. — The grateful Hebrews now 
desired to make Gideon king, but he rejected the proffer 
in the true spirit of theocratic policy. " No !" cried the 
magnanimous warrior, " not I, nor my son, but Jehovah, 
shall reign over you." One stain remains on the character 
of this dauntless chieftain. With the spoils of Midian he 
made an ephod, which subsequently tempted the Israelites 
to idolatry and became a snare to his own house. Gideon 
died forty years after the defeat of the Midianites, during 
which period the land had rest. Judg. vi.-viii. 

283. Sixth Judgeship: Abimelech, three years, 
1209-1206.— After the death of Gideon (Jerubbaal), 
Abimelech, son of Gideon by a concubine, persuaded his 
mother's family to win over the Shechemitesf to his in- 
terest by saying it was better that they should be ruled 
by one man (Abimelech) than by the seventy men who 
were Abimelech's brethren. The Shechemites then in- 
clined to Abimelech, and gave him money, with which 
he paid men to follow him to his father's house, where he 
slew all his seventy brethren, Jotham, the youngest, only 
escaping. Abimelech was then made king, but when Jo- 
tham heard of it, he addressed to the Shechemites from 
Mount Gerizim the following apologue, which is the ear- 
liest recorded in Scripture. Judg. ix. 1-7. 

284. Varable of the Trees. — "The trees went forth on a 
time to anoint a king over them, but the olive refused to leave its 
oil, the fig tree its sweetness, and the vine tree its wine [thus inti- 
mating the refusal of Gideon's sons] ; but the upstart bramble 
[Abimelech] accepted the honor, saying, If ye anoint me king, you 
may put your trust in my shadow [?". e. rely upon my protection] ; 
otherwise let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars 

* This city lay near the banks of the river Jabbok. (See note to 
sect. 100.) 

f Sheehem, or Sichem, was in Samaria, and in the beginning of the 
divided monarchy of Judah and Israel it formed the capital of the 
latter kingdom. 



B. c. 1206-1137. JUDGES IX., X. 153 

of Lebanon [?'. e. if ye act faithlessly, Abimelech will be revenged 
even upon the most powerful of his enemies]. If then ye have 
dealt truly with Gideon and his sons, rejoice in Abimelech, and let 
him rejoice in you ; but if not, let fire come out of Abimelech and 
devour the men of Shechem, and let fire come out of the men of 
Shechem and devour Abimelech." 

Jotham then fled to Beer, but his subsequent history is 
unknown. Judg. ix. 8-21. 

285. Abimelech killed by a Millstone, 1206. — After 
three years the Shechemites repented of the murder of 
Gideon's seventy sons, and revolted from Abimelech and 
followed Gaal, the son of Ebed ; but Zebul, the governor 
of Shechem, having become disgusted with Gaal's pre- 
sumption, sent notice to Abimelech that Gaal and the 
Shechemites had fortified their city against him. Abim- 
elech immediately marched against Shechem, defeated 
Gaal, beat down the city, and sowed it with salt ; and as 
many of the besieged had escaped to a hold in the house 
of the god Berith, he and his men cut down trees and 
placed them round the hold and fired them, and thus 
burnt a thousand men and women to death. [Imme- 
diately after Gideon's death the people had begun the wor- 
ship of Berith. Judg. viii. 33.] Abimelech then besieged 
Thebez, but, in approaching to burn the door of the tower, 
a woman cast a piece of millstone upon his head, and he 
said hastily to his armor-bearer, " Draw thy sword and 
slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him." 
The armor-bearer then thrust him through, and he died. 
Judg. ix. 

286. Seventh Judgeship : Tola, twenty-three years, 
1206-1183.— Dwelt in Mount Ephraim. Judg. x. 1, 2. 

287. Eighth Judgeship: Jair, twenty-tivo years, 
1183-1161. — A Gileadite who had thirty sous who rode 
on thirty ass-colts, and had thirty cities called Havoth- 
jair — i. e. " the villages of Jair " — in Gilead. Judg. x. 3-5. 

East of Jordan, 1161-1112. 

288. Ninth Judgeship: Jephthah, six 

years, 1143-1137* — The Israelites again tide: Ammo- 
fell into idolatry and worshipped Baalim, ? 1 i l tV s - 11 !.? yrs -» 

., , ■. J , if ri • rr i 1161-114 J. 

Ashtaroth, and the gods of byna, Zidon, 

Moab, Ammon, and the Philistines. For eighteen years 



154 JUDGES X. b. c. 1137. 

the Ammonites oppressed the tribes east of the Jordan 
and made frequent incursions upon Judah, Ephraim, and 
Benjamin, who at the same time had to defend themselves 
from the growing power of the Philistines. (See sect. 
298.) The Israelites again cried to the Lord for deliver- 
ance, and the Lord heard them. 

289. Captain of a Band of Men in Toh. — Jephthah, 
son of Gilead by a harlot, having been expelled from his 
father's house by his more legitimate brethren, had col- 
lected a band of vain men in the land of Tob, a small 
district east of Jordan, and lying to the north of the half 
tribe of Manasseh. In that age of anarchy Jephthah had 
distinguished himself by his valor, and probably by his 
predatory exploits ; and the elders of Gilead now applied 
to him for assistance, and covenanted to atone for former 
insults by making him their head. 

290. Sends Envoys to the King of Amnion. — Jeph- 
thah immediately sent to the Ammonite king to demand 
the reason of his invasion. The Ammonite replied by 
laying claim to the region from the Arnon to the Jabbok 
and from the Jordan to the wilderness, which had been 
occupied by the Israelites since their conquest of Sihon, 
king of the Amorites, but which Sihon had wrested from 
the Ammonites before the time of Moses. (See sect. 229.) 
This preposterous claim was explicitly opposed by the 
Gileadite chieftain. His messenger repeated his words 
to the king of Ammon : " Thus saith Jephthah, The Is- 
raelites took not the lands of Moab or Ammon, but con- 
quered the dominions of Sihon, who refused them a passage 
through his territories. This land they have occupied for 
three hundred years: therefore the Lord shall be our 
judge." . 

291. Defeats the Ammonites ; his Hash Voiv. — The 
Ammonite king refused to hear the message, but Jeph- 
thah, after vowing, in case of victory, to offer as a burnt- 
offering to God whoever should meet him on his return, 
invaded the dominions of Ammon, destroyed twenty cities 
between Aroer and Minnith, and effectually subdued the 
Ammonites by an immense slaughter. On returning to 
his house at Mizpeh he met his only daughter, who had 
come out to welcome him with timbrels and dances ; but 
the issue of his rash vow is still a subject of controversy 



B.C. 1137-1120. JUDGES XI.-XIII. 155 

amongst critical commentators.* The Ephraimites after- 
ward quarrelled with Jephthah, and threatened to burn 
his house for not permitting them to share the booty of 
his expedition and the glory of his victories. A battle 
was the result, but Jephthah, at the head of his conquer- 
ing Gileadites, speedily routed the children of Ephraim ; 
and then, guarding the passes of the Jordan, he slew every 
fugitive who pronounced the word " Shibboleth " as " Sib- 
boleth," and thus completed the slaughter of forty-two 
thousand of the enemy. Jephthah died after judging Is- 
rael six years. Judg. x. 6-16 ; xi. ; xii. 1-7. 

292. Tenth Judgeship : Ibzan, seven years, 1137- 
1130. — A Bethlehemite, who seems to have been only a 
civil judge in the north-east of Israel. Judg. xii. 8-10. 

293. Eleventh Judgeship : Eton, ten years, 113 O— 
1120. — A Zebulunite, who appears to have been also only 
a civil judge in the north of Israel. "Judg. xii. 11, 12. 

294. Twelfth Judgeship: Abdon, eight years, 
1120-1112. — A Pirathonite, who had forty sons and 
thirty nephews, who rode on seventy ass-colts. He seems 
to have been only a civil judge in the north of Israel, like 
the two former. Judg. xii. 13-15. 

South-western Canaan, 1161-1120. 

295. 13th Judgeship : Samson, twenty Seventh Ser- 
years, 1140-1120.- -During the judgeships gJ^JJ 6 
of Jephthah, Ibzan, and Elon in the north and 4( > y p ans, 
eastern districts, the continued idolatry of the 
south-western Israelites was punished by forty years of 
Philistine oppression. The latter half of this period 
has been rendered memorable by the exploits of Sam- 
son, whose life may be thus briefly sketched. Judg. 
xiii. 1. 

296. Life and Exploits of Samson ; bom 1161 ; 
became judge 1140 ; judged twenty years, 1140— 
1120. — The wife of Manoah, a Danite, was barren, 

* Modern critics have ingenuously supposed that Jcphthah's daughter 
was only devoted to perpetual virginity. See the different Commen- 
taries, and a curious article on Jephthah's vow, in Sir Thomas ISrowne's 
Vulgar Errors, upon this point. Their arguments, however, are scarcely 
sufficient to set aside the plain words of the sacred writer: ''And Jeph- 
thah did with her according to his vow." 



156 JUDGES XIII.-XV. b.c. 1120. 

when an angel appeared to her and promised her a son 
who should be a Nazarite from his birth, and Samson 
was born in b. c. 1161. Having attained the age of 
twenty in b. c. 1141, Samson saw a Philistine woman at 
Timnath whom he desired for a wife, and his parents, 
after some opposition, went with him to the abode of 
her father. On the journey, whilst Samson was alone 
and unarmed near the vineyards of Timnath, a young 
lion roared against him ; but the muscular Nazarite rent 
the beast as he would a kid, and visited his intended 
bride without revealing his exploit. Shortly after this 
visit Samson returned to marry the fair Philistine, and 
on his way he saw that a swarm of bees had established 
themselves in the lion's carcass, and accordingly carried 
off a portion of the honey. The marriage was soon ar- 
ranged, and at the feast Samson propounded the follow- 
ing riddle : " Out of the eater came forth meat, and out 
of the strong came forth sweetness ;" and he promised 
that if his thirty guests could solve it within seven days, 
he would give them thirty sheets and changes of gar- 
ments, but if not, that they must give him the same. 
The thirty guests totally failed in discovering the solu- 
tion, but obtained the answer on the seventh day by 
threatening the wife of Samson, who cajoled her husband 
out of the secret. Samson saw their treachery, and paid 
them with the spoils of thirty Philistines whom he slew at 
Askalon, but left his wife in anger and returned to his 
father's house. Soon afterward he visited his wife with 
a kid, but his father-in-law would not suffer him to see 
her, and admitted that in his' absence she had been given 
to a companion of Samson's. The infuriated husband 
now determined on revenge. He affixed burning fire- 
brands to the tails of three hundred foxes and let them 
loose in the standing corn of the Philistines ; and though 
the latter, upon learning the cause, burnt both his Tim- 
nath wife and his father-in-law, yet Samson smote them 
with great slaughter, and then retired to the rock Etam. 
The Philistines now encamped in Lehi, whilst three thou- 
sand men of Judah ascended the rock to take Samson ; 
and as the three thousand promised not to kill him, 
he suffered himself to be bound with two new cords and 
taken to Lehi. The Philistines approached their captive 



b. c. 1120. JUDGES XVI. 157 

enemy with shouts of exultation, when Samson suddenly 
burst his bonds, and, finding the new jaw-bone of an ass, 
he slew with it one thousand men. After the battle he 
was fainting with thirst, when the same weapon which 
had delivered him from his enemies miraculously fur- 
nished him with water. "And Samson judged Israel 
\_i. e. the south-western districts] in the days [2. e. servi- 
tude] of the Philistines twenty years." Judg. xiii. 2-25 ; 
xiv. ; xv. 

297. Samson 9 s Capture and Heroic Death, 1120. 
— The name of Samson now became a terror to the Phil- 
istines, and they used every effort to take him prisoner. 
At one time, when he had gone to Gaza to visit a har- 
lot, the Gazites encompassed the city and guarded the 
gates, thinking to take him on the morning ; but Samson 
arose at midnight, took the city gates with the two posts, 
bar and all, and carried them away on his shoulders to 
the summit of the hill before Hebron. Samson was at 
length taken by treachery. He loved a woman in the 
valley of Sorek named Delilah, who was promised eleven 
hundred pieces of silver by the Philistine lords if she 
could discover a foil to his great strength. Three times 
Samson evaded her questions. First he said that green 
undried withs could overcome him, and with these Deli- 
lah bound him whilst Philistine lords were stationed in 
her chamber ; but when she suddenly cried, " The Phil- 
istines be upon thee, Samson," the withs were broken like 
a thread of tow touched with fire. She afterward, in ac- 
cordance with his replies, bound him with new ropes, but 
with the same result ; and again she wove the seven locks 
of his head with a web and fastened it with the pin of the 
beam, but he arose and carried away both pin and web, 
and she still found herself mocked. At last, by constant 
pressing, Delilah obtained the secret from Samson — name- 
ly, that if he was shaved his strength would leave him. 
She immediately sent again for the Philistine lords, and 
Samson was shaved whilst sleeping on her knees, taken 
prisoner, carried to Gaza, and bound with brazen fetters, 
whilst his savage captors put out his eyes and made him 
grind in his prison-house. After a time Samson's hair 
began to grow, and the moment for revenge arrived. 
The Philistines held a great feast in the temple of Dagon 

14 



158 1 SAMUEL I., II. b.c. 1181-1141. 

to celebrate their victory, and sent for Samson to make 
them sport. All the Philistine nobles were assembled, 
whilst three thousand people crowded the roof!, when the 
blind warrior begged the lad who led him to take him 
to the supporting pillars. Then Samson called upon the 
Lord, and, seizing the two middle pillars, he bowed with 
all his might, until the vast building fell in and buried 
alike the nobility and populace of Philistia in the tem- 
ple of their idol. The hero fell with his enemies, but 
his death was attended by a greater slaughter than his 
whole lifetime had achieved; and his brethren obtained 
his body and buried it in the tomb of his father, b. c. 1120. 
Judg. xvi. 

Southern Canaan, 1181-1095. 

Philistine 298. Obscure Chronology; Fourteenth 

tyrants. Judgeship: Eli, forty years, 1181-1141. 

— The chronology of the principal events in the time of 
the judges is exceedingly confused, and it is impossible to 
review the history in strictly chronological order, from the 
fact of the northern and southern districts being judged 
by different but contemporary judges. We now come to 
the history of Samuel, who was born about B. c. 1171, 
began to judge b. c. 1141, and died b. c. 1060, a series 
of years which commences in the judgeship of Jair, con- 
tinues in that of Samson, and concludes only in the twen- 
ty-fifth year of the reign of Saul. For ten years previous 
to the birth of Samuel, and until Samuel was thirty years 
of age, b. c. 1181-1141 (a period just prior to the judge- 
ship of Samson), Eli had ruled the south-western districts 
of Canaan. Eli was high priest, and descended from Ith- 
amar, fourth son of Aaron, and was the first of that branch 
who enjoyed the high priesthood ; why it was transferred 
from the family of Eleazar is unknown. (See sect. 231.) 
During his judgeship, Elkanah, a native of Mount 
Ephraim, had two wives, Peninnah and Hannah ; Pe- 
ninnah was a mother, but Hannah was barren. In b. c. 
1171, Hannah vowed in the tabernacle that if a son was 
granted her, she would devote him to the service of Je- 
hovah ; and, Eli having promised that God would an- 
swer her petition, she returned home and gave birth to 
Samuel, who was then devoted to the service of God as a 



b.c. 1141. 1 SAMUEL II., III. 159 

Nazarite from his infancy, and when the lad was weaned 
his mother took him to the tabernacle at Shiloh, where 
he was brought up under the care of Eli. 1 Sam. i. ; ii. 
1-11. 

299. Misconduct of Eli's Sons. — Meanwhile, the fla- 
grant misconduct of Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons 
of Eli, called down the vengeance of God. These two 
men were priests, and instead of being satisfied with the 
priest's portion, the right shoulder and breast of peace- 
offerings, etc. (see sect. 170), they thrust a flesh-hook 
with three teeth into the seething-kettle and took all that 
was brought up for themselves ; they demanded all the 
choicest parts for themselves before God was served and 
the fat burnt, and, moreover, debauched the women of 
the congregation. Eli, instead of punishing his sons, 
simply reprimanded them, and a prophet was sent to re- 
prove him for his criminal leniency as a parent, and to 
foretell the destruction of his house and advent of a more 
faithful priest ; and as a sign that the message was from 
God, it was declared that Eli's two sons should be cut off 
in one day. 1 Sam. ii. 12-36. 

300. Prophecy of Samuel. — When Samuel was yet a 
youth the Lord called him by name one night whilst he 
was sleeping near the tabernacle. Samuel immediately 
thought that Eli had called, and ran to him ; but when 
this had occurred three times, Eli perceived that the Lord 
had called the boy, and directed Samuel, if called again, 
to reply, " Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth." Sam- 
uel did as he was directed, and the Lord, calling to him 
again, announced the forthcoming destruction of the fam- 
ily of Eli. The next morning Eli learnt the awful sen- 
tence from the trembling boy, " and all Israel, from Dan 
to Beersheba, kneAv that Samuel was established to be a 
prophet of the Lord." 1 Sam. iii. 

301. Philistines defeat the Israelites ; Eli and his 
two Sons slain, 1141. — In b. c. 1141, the Israelites were 
defeated by the Philistines at Ebcnezer and four thousand 
slain. A second time the Israelites marched against the 
enemy, whilst Hophni and Phinehas bore the ark of God ; 
but they were again defeated with the loss of 30,000 men, 
the ark was taken, and the two sons of Eli were slain. 
The fearful news was brought to the old man, bending 



160 1 SAMUEL IV. b.c. 1141-1112. 

beneath the weight of ninety-eight years. The accumu- 
lated disasters were too much for the father, priest, and 
judge ; and, falling back from his seat by the gate of Shi- 
loh, he dislocated his neck and died. Eli was succeeded 
in the priesthood by his third son, Ahitub — or as some say 
Ahiah — and in the government by Samuel. 1 Sam. iv. 

302. Fifteenth Judgeship : Samuel, 1141-1112. — 
After their victory the Philistines carried the ark from 
Ebenezer to Ashdod and placed it in the temple of Dagon, 
but their idol was thrown down and themselves were smit- 
ten with haemorrhoids. They then carried the ark first 
to Gath, and afterward to Ekron, but the same disease 
attacked the inhabitants of both cities, and after keeping 
the holy chest for seven months they were compelled to 
send it back to the Israelites with five golden emerods and 
mice,* according to the number of their lords and cities, as 
a trespass-offering for their sin. The Philistines carried 
the ark and gifts to the field of Joshua the Bethshemite, 
who offered up the kine on the wood of the cart which 
conveyed them as a burnt-offering to God ; but the wrath 
of Jehovah slew 50,070f Bethshemites for looking into the 
ark, and the mourners sent to the inhabitants of Kirjath- 
jearim to take it to their city, where it remained in the 
house of Abinadab till b. c. 1042, when it was fetched by 
David. In b. c. 1120, being twenty years after the vic- 
tory of the Philistines, Samuel assembled all Israel at 
Mizpeh, and called upon the people to put away Baal and 
Ashtaroth and worship God only ; and he then offered up 
a sucking lamb as a burnt-offering. During the ceremony 
the Philistines fell upon the assembly, but, with the assist- 
ance of a thunderstorm, the Israelites gained a complete 
victory and recovered their cities from Ekron to Gath, 
whilst Samuel set up a stone between Mizpeh and Shen 
and called it Ebenezer, saying, " Hitherto hath the Lord 
helped us." Samuel now judged Israel in Bethel, Gilgal, 
and Mizpeh, to which places he made yearly circuits from 
his residence at Ramah ; but in b. c. 1112, having become 

* The LXX. add to 1 Sam. v. 6 that whilst the Philistines were tor- 
mented with haemorrhoids their country was afflicted with mice. — 
Patrick. 

f Josephus says seventy persons only were slain, which appears to 
be the true reading of the sacred text. 



B.C. 1112-1095. 1 SAMUEL VIII.-X. 161 

very old, he made his sons, Joel and Abiah, judges in 
Beersheba. 1 Sam. v.-viii. 1, 2. 

303. Judgeships of Samuel's Sons, 1112-1095 ; 
Hebrews desire a King, — The sons of Samuel judged 
the land till b. c. 1095, when all the elders of Israel (or 
the legislative assembly of the nation ; see sect. 133) 
gathered together and complained to the father of the cu- 
pidity of his children, and, as the country was threatened 
by the Ammonites, they begged him to grant them a king. 
Samuel represented to them the evils of a monarchy, but 
in vain, and at length the Lord desired him to accede to 
their wishes. About this time a Benjamite named Kish 
lost his asses, and sent his son Saul, who was the tallest 
and handsomest young man in Israel, to seek for them. 
Saul was unsuccessful, but by the advice of his servant 
he inquired of Samuel, who was still residing at Ramah, 
and to whom his coming and royal destiny had been pre- 
viously revealed by God. Samuel satisfied Saul respect- 
ing the asses, set him in the chief place amongst thirty 
other guests, and gave him a portion of the feast which 
had been set aside in expectation of his coming. In the 
morning Samuel accompanied him to the end of the city, 
where he anointed him king and confirmed it by three 
signs: 1st. That he should meet two men by Rachel's 
sepulchre who would acquaint him with the recovery of 
the asses ; 2d. That after that he should meet three men 
in the plain of Tabor with three loaves, three kids, and one 
bottle of wine ; 3d. That a company of prophets should 
meet him with instruments of music, and the Spirit of the 
Lord should descend upon him. These events took place 
as Samuel had foretold, and, having assembled the whole 
mass of the people at Mizpeh and taken out Saul from 
the family of Matri and the tribe of Benjamin, he declared 
him to be king amid the acclamations of the multitude, 
b. c. 1095. 1 Sam. viii. 3-22 ; ix. ; x. 

14* L 



162 RUTH. b. c. 1322. 

RUTH. 

(Supposed to have been written by Samuel.) 

AN EPISODE IN THE HISTORY OF THE JUDGES.-ABOUT B. C. 1320. 



304. Character of the Book of Ruth. — The book 
of Ruth forms an episode in the history of the judges, 
and the events it records probably took place during the 
judgeship of Shamgar, about B. c. 1322-1312. Whilst 
this book is useful in exhibiting the providence of God 
over individuals, and interesting as an illustration of life 
and manners in those ancient times, it is more especially 
valuable as containing the descent of David in a direct 
line from Judah, to which tribe the promise of the Messiah 
belonged. Moreover, the adoption of Ruth, a heathen 
Moabitess, into the line of the Messiah seems to intimate 
that mystery which was revealed under the gospel — that 
the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs and partakers of God's 
promises in Christ. Eph. iii. 6-9. 

305. Story of Ruth, dr. 1322. — Elimelech, a native 
of Bethlehem-judah, had been driven by a famine to the 
land of the Moabites, east of the Dead Sea. Here he 
died, leaving his wife, Naomi, with two sons, but the latter 
subsequently married two Moabite women, Orpah and 
Ruth. After ten years Naomi's two sons died also, and 
the bereaved widow desired to send her two daughters-in- 
law each to her mother's house, whilst she herself returned 
to Bethlehem-judah. Orpah then affectionately kissed 
Naomi and departed, but Ruth refused to go, saying, 
" Whither thou goest, I will go ; and where thou lodgest, 
I will lodge : thy people shall be my people, and thy God 
my God." The two women then proceeded to Bethle- 
hem, where Naomi sent Ruth to glean in the field of 
Boaz, a kinsman, who behaved kindly to her and invited 
her to take refreshment with his reapers. When Naomi 
heard this she directed Ruth how to remind Boaz of their 
close relationship, which Boaz immediately acknowledged, 
and soon after married her according to the law of Moses 



1 AND 2 SAMUEL; 1 AND 2 KINGS. 163 

(sect. 122). Boaz and Kuth then had a son named Obed, 
who was the father of Jesse and grandfather of David, 
from whom was descended the Messiah. Matt. i. 5. Boaz 
was descended from Judah through Pharez (sect. 62). 



1 AND 2 SAMUEL; 1 AND 2 KINGS. 

HISTORY OF THE JEWS UNDER A MONARCHY. B. C. 1095 to 588—508 YEARS. 

[I Samuel records the judgeships of Eli and of Samuel and 
his sons,* and the reign of Saul, B. c. 1181-1055, about 
one hundred and twenty-six years. 2 Samuel records 
nearly all the reign of David, B. c. 1055-1015, about forty 
years. The two books derive their name from being in 
part written by Samuel. He wrote the first twenty-four 
chapters of the first book, but the remainder is supposed 
to have been written by the prophets Gad and Nathan : 
11 Now the acts of David, first and last, behold, they are 
written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book 
of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer." 

1 Chron. xxix. 29. Samuel could not have written the 
whole, because his death occurs in the twenty-fifth chapter 
of the first book, and the remainder of the first and whole 
of the second book relate events which took place after 
his death. The two books were considered as one in the 
Hebrew canon, and are termed the first and second Books 
of Kings in the Vulgate. 

I Kings begins in the last year of David's reign, and ends 
with the death of Jehoshaphat, B. c. 1015-889 — one hun- 
dred and twenty-six years — including the reign of Solo- 
mon, and the reigns of Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, and 
Jehoshaphat over Judah, and of Jeroboam, Nadab, Ba- 
asha, Elah, Zimri, Omri and Tibni, and Ahab over Israel. 

2 Kings extends from the death of Jehoshaphat to the 
destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, B. c. 889- 
588 — about three hundred years — including the continua- 
tion of the contemporaneous history of the kingdoms of 
Israel and Judah till the former was subverted by the 
Assyrian captivity, B. C. 721, and the latter by the Baby- 
lonian captivity, b. c. 588. The two books are generally 
ascribed to Ezra, although some have imputed them to 
Jeremiah, and others to Isaiah. They were considered as 

* See Table of "Seven Servitudes," etc., p. 148. 



164 1 AND 2 SAMUEL; 1 AND 2 KINGS. 

one book in the Hebrew canon, and are termed the third 
and fourth Books of Kings in the Septuagint and Vulgate.] 



ANALYSIS. 

History of the Single Monarchy. 

1. Saul, 1095-1056.— Defeat of the Ammonites, 1095 — 
Defeat of the Philistines; gallantry of Jonathan, 1093.— Defeat of 
the Moabites, Edomites, kings of Zobah, and Amalekites, 1079. — 
David anointed king, 1063. — Slays Goliath. — Excites the jealousy 
of Saul. — Flies from court, 1062. — His covenant with Jonathan. — 
Goes to the Philistines, but at length returns to Judah. — Saul mas- 
sacres the priests at Nob, 1062. — David rescues Keilah, and flees 
from Saul to Ziph, Maon, and Engedi. — Forbears to slay Saul at 
Engedi, 1061.— Death of Samuel, 1060.— David marries Nabal's 
wife. — Forbears to slay Saul at Ziph, 1060, but flies to the Philis- 
tines, 1058. — Philistine invasion ; Saul consults the witch of Endor, 
1056. — Defeat and suicide of Saul. — His character. — Reigned forty 
years page 169. 

2. David, 1056-1015.— -Defeats the Amalekites, and is 
proclaimed at Hebron, 1056. — Abner joins David, but is slain by 
Joab, 1048. — Ishbosheth slain ; David rules all Israel, 1048. — Takes 
Jerusalem from the Jebusites. — Defeats the Philistines, 1043. — Re- 
moves the ark from Kirjath-jearim to Jerusalem, 1042. — Conquers 
the Philistines, Moabites, Edomites, and Syrians. — Adopts Mephi- 
bosheth, 1040. — Defeats the Ammonites and Svrians, 1037-1035. — ■ 
Adultery with Bathsheba, 1035.— Death of his child, 1034.— Solo- 
mon born, 1033. — Kabbah taken, 1033. — Tamar abused by Amnon, 
1032. — Amnon slain and Absalom exiled, 1030. — Return of Absa- 
lom, 1027. — Absalom's revolt, 1023. — David leaves Jerusalem. — 
His concubines insulted. — Ahithophel's counsel rejected. — David 
prepares for battle. — Absalom's defeat and death. — David returns 
to Jerusalem. — Dissensions between Judah and Israel ; revolt of 
Sheba, 1022. — Amasa and Sheba slain. — Famine for three years, 
1022-1019. — Atonement for Saul's slaughter of the Gibeonites, 
1019. — David's last expedition against the Philistines, 1018. — Num- 
bering of the people, and 70,000 slain by pestilence, 1017. — Revolt 
of Adonijah, 1015. — Solomon declared successor. — Death of David, 
1015. — Character of David. — Reigned forty years. . . page 178. 

3. Solomon, 1015-075. — Extent of the kingdom. — Joab 
and Adonijah slain, and Abiathar banished, 1014. — Character of 
Joab. — Shimei slain, 1011. — Solomon's marriage with Pharaoh's 
daughter, 1014; his singular wisdom. — Commerce of Solomon. — 
Building of the temple and palaces, 1012-992. — Description of 
the temple. — Its dedication, 1005. — Glory of Solomon ; visits of 
the queen of Sheba, etc. — Kingdom disturbed by idolatry and 
faction. — Death and character of Solomon, 975. — Reigned forty 
years page 191. 



1 AND 2 SAMUEL; 1 AND 2 KINGS. 165 

$ Accession of Rehoboam ; revolt of the ten tribes, 975. page 198. 

| Prefatory review of the history of the divided monarchies. — 
Contracted frontiers. — Reciprocal relations of the two monarchies. — 
Causes which led to their destruction. — Idolatry of Israel. — Idol- 
atry of Judah page 199. 






SYNCHRONISTICAL TABLE OP THE 



JUDAI. 
From the revolt of the ten tribes until Jehu destroyed 
the dynasty of Ahab in Israel and slew Ahaziah 
in Jadah. 



First Period. 
B. c. 975-884. 



1. Rehoboam, 975.— Warned by Shemaiah not to war against Israel; built 
fenced cities. Shishak invades Judah and plunders the temple. 



2. Abijah, 5)58. — Defeats Jeroboam 

heart not perfect. 

3. Asa. 955.— Suppresses idolatry; 

defeats Zerah the Ethiopian; 
leagues with Benhadad I. of 
Syria, to attack Baasha of Is- 
rael; dies of diseased feet; 
seeks physicians more than 
the Lord. 

4. Jehoshaphat. 914.— Upholds the 

worship of Jehovah; organizes 
national education ; fortifies 
Judah ; levies an army; ap- 
points judges; flourishing state 
of the kingdom; marries his 
son Jehoram to Athaliah, Ahab's 
daughter ; joins Ahab against 
Ramoth-gilead; rebuked by 
Jehu; tries to revive the com- 
merce of Solomon, on the Red 
Sea, to Ophir; defeats confed- 
eracy of Moabites and Ammon- 
ites; allies with Jehoram of 
Israel to put down Moabite re- 
volt ; his son shares the throne. 

5. Jehoram, 8S9. — Sins like his fath- 

er-in-law, Ahab; establishes 
idolatry; Idumcea secedes whol- 
ly from Judah. 

6. Ahaziah, 8S5. — Sins like Ahab; 

allies with Jehoram of Israel; 
slain by Jehu. 



Prophetical schools established in 
Judah and Israel from the time of 
Samuel. 

Celebrated Prophets of Israel. 

Elijah, 910-898.— Predicted three 
years' drought ; fed by ravens and ex- 
haustless oil and meal ; restores wid- 
ow of Zarephath's son ; proves the su- 
periority of Jehovah to Baal at Car- 
mel ; flies to Horeb; ordered to anoint 
Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha; denounces 
Ahab; predicts Ahaziah's death ; di- 
vides Jordan ; ascends in a chariot of 
fire. 

Elisha, 896-S38.— Receives mantle 
of Elijah; divides Jordan; heals wa- 
ters at Jericho; slays forty-two chil- 
dren by two she-bears; supplies allied 
armies with water; promises the Shu- 
nammite a son; heals Naaman ; (re- 
hazi leprous; makes iron axe swim; 
discloses Benhadad's counsels to Jeho- 
ram ; blinds Syrian host; promises 
provisions at siege of Samaria; heals 
deadly pottage; feeds one hundred 
men with twenty loaves; restores Shu- 
nammite's son ; foretells seven years' 
famine, death of Benhadad and ac- 
cession of Hazael; sends to anoint 
Jehu; promises three victories to Jo- 
ash ; a corpse revived in bis tomb. 



... From the simultaneous accession of Jehu in Israel 
b°c 884^721* an< ^ usur P a H° n of Athaliah in Judah, until Israel 
was carried away captive by the Assyrian power. 

7. Athaliah's usurpation, 884.— Joash saved; educated by Jehoiada the 

priest; Athaliah slain; Joash anointed king. 

8. Jehoiish, or Joash. 878. — Jehoiada regent ; worship of Jehovah restored ; 

death of Jehoiada; re-establishment of Baal ; part of the kingdom 
ravaged by Hazael ; Joash slain by his servants. 

9. Amaziah, 839.— Begins well ; defeats the Edomites; worships the Edom- 

ite gods; challenges Joash of Israel, but is defeated; slain at Lachish. 

10. Uzziah, 810. — Influence of Zechariah ; kingdom flourishes; Uzziah 

smitten with leprosy. 

11. Jot hani, 758. — Reigned righteously and I Joel prophesied, cir. 800. 

prosperously; decline of the Syrian Isaiah prophesied, cir. 760-698. 
power. I Micah prophesied, cir. 750-710. 

12. Ahaz. 742. — Worships Baal and Molech ; first invasion of Pefcah of Israel 

and Rezin of Syria; Isaiah gives to Ahaz the sign of a virgin's con- 
ception ; second invasion of Pekah and Rezin ; Ahaz applies toTij;lath- 
pileser, king of Assyria; worships the gods of Damascus. 

13. Hezekiah, 726. — Breaks the brazen serpent, and destroys idolatry; re- 



stores the worship of Jehovah ; 
celebrates the passover; rebels 
against Shalmaneser, 725; de- 
feats the Philistines. 



166 



Ex.pt.an. Tiglath-pileser had maue 
Ahaz tributary, but Hezekiah now re- 
fused to pay this tribute to Shalma- 
neser, who was the son and successor 
of Tiglath. 



HISTORY OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL. 



ISRAEL. 

rom the revolt of the ten tribes until Jehu destroyed the First Period. 
dynasty of Ahab in Israel and slew Ahaziah in Judah. B - c - 975-88i. 
Jeroboam, 975.— Fortifies Shechem. Establishes golden-calf worship and 

profane priesthood. Man of God sent to Bethel. Ahijah's prophecy. 

Defeated by Abijah. Made Israel to sin. 



Rise of (lie kingdom of 
Syria. — Syria was anciently 
divided into small independent 
states, but David reduced them 
to a province. In Solomon's 
reign Rezon seized Damascus 
and erected a kingdom. Mon- 
arch*. — Rezon, 980; Benbadad 
I., 940; Benhadad II., 910; Ha- 
zael, 885; Benbadad III., 839; 
Rezin, 742. Kingdom over- 
thrown by Assyria, 740. 



2. Nadab, 954.— Worships tbe calves. 

3. Baasha, 953.— Worships the calves. Al- 

lies with Benhadad I. Fortifies Ra- 
mah, but stopped by Asa's interfe- 
rence. 

4. Elali, 930.— Assassinated by Zimri bis 

captain. 

5. Zimri, 929.— Reigned seven days ; burnt 

himself at Tirzah. 

6. Omri. 929.— Factions of Omri and Tibni. 

Omri reigns wickedly. 

7. Altai), 918.— Marries Jezebel, a Phoeni- 

cian princess; worships Phoenician gods, Baal and Astarte; three years' 
famine; Jezebel persecutes the prophets; grand trial on CarmH between 
Elijah and priests of Baal: Elijah ordered to anoint Elisha, Hazael, 
and Jehu. War with Syria. First campaign of Benhadad II.: siege of 
Samaria; second campaign; Benbadad defeated at Aphek ; unholy alli- 
ance between Syria and Israel ; Ahab seizes Naboth's vineyard ; Elijah's 
fearful prophecy; unites with Jehoshaphat against Ramoth-gilead ; killed 
by a random arrow; Jericho rebuilt. 

8. Ahaziah, 897.— Worships both Baal and tbe calves; revolt of the Moab- 

ites; Ahaziah sick; sends to Baal-zebub. 

9. Jehoram, 896. — Worships the calves; death of Elijah: allies with Jehosh- 

aphat to put down Moabite revolt; saved by Elisha; Elisha heals Naa- 
man; other miracles; Benhadad II. again besieges Samaria; fearful 
famine; Elisha restores the Shunammite's son; foretells the accession 
of Hazael ; anoints Jehu ; destruction of tbe reigning dynasty. [Elijah 
and Elisha, see opposite page.] 

From the simultaneous accession of Jehu in Israel and . 

usurpation of Athaliah in Judah until Israel was 
carried away captive by the Assyrian power. 

10. Jehu, 884.— Slays Jezebel and destroys the house of Ahab; worships 
the calves; destroys Baal's worshippers; Hazael seizes all Israel east 
of the Jordan. 

11. Jehoahaz, 856.— Worships tbe calves; I r „„„T, „„™», QC ,s Q «, „,•„ O co 
oppressed by Hazael and Benhadad III. | Jonah P ro P hesies > ™. 862. 

12. Joash, 839.— Worships the calves; promised three victories by Elisha; 
defeats Syrians three times; defeats Amaziah of Judah. 

13. Jeroboam II., 825. — Decline of the Syrian power; brilliant successes 
against Syria. . . . Flourishing period of Israelite history. 

Interregnum, 784-773. [by Shallum. I Amos prophesies, 787. 

14. Zechariah, 773.— Reigned six months; slain | Ilosea prophesies, 785. 

15. Shallnin, 772. — R'i^ned one month; assassinated by Menahem. 



B. C. 884-721. 



16. Menahem, 772.— First Assyrian 
under Pul. 

17. Pekahiah, 761.— Assassinated by Pekah. 

18. Pekah, 759.— Allies with Rezin, king of 
Syria, and invades Judah ; makes a sec- 
ond invasion; second Assyrian inva- 
sion: Tiglath-pileser transplants the 
Syrians and all the tribes east of the 
Jordan to Media. 

I n t er re«l u m , 739-730. 

19. Hoshea. 730.— Better than his predecessors; third Assyrian invasion: 
Shaluianeser makes Hoshea tributary; Hoshea rebels and is impris- 
oned, 7'25; siege of Samaria and captivity of Israel, 721; inhabitants 
transplanted to Media and Inner Asia. 

\ Colonization of Samaria by Esarh addon ; origin of the Samaritans. 

167 



Rise of the Assyrian Power. 

— Prior to Pul the history of 
this empire is uncertain. Mon- 
arch*.— Pul, 770; Tiglath-pile- 
ser, 750; Shaluianeser, 730; 
Sennacherib, 715; Esarhad- 
don, Saosduchinus. Chyniiad- 
anus. Empire at length over- 
thrown by Medes and Chal- 
deans, about b. c. 600. 



Thi 



13. 



TABLE OF KINGS OF JUDAH— Continued. 

rd Period. From the Assyrian captivity of Israel to the Babylo- 

, 721-588. nian captivity of Judah. 

Hezekiah, continued. — First Assyrian invasion of Judah: Hezekiah 



14, 



submits to Sennacherib. 713; Sen- 
nacherib takes Ashdod, and again 
invades Judah ; called away by the 
invasion of Tirhakah the Ethiopian ; 
miraculous destruction of his army ; 
Hezekiab'ssick- The Medes and 
ness, 712; mes- Babylonians had 
sengers from revolted from As- 
Merodach-Ba- syria after the de- 
ladan, king of struct ion of the 
Babylon; Isaiah army of Sennache- 
f ore tells the rib, but the Baby- 
Babylonian cap- lonians were sub- 
tivity ; peacelul sequently reduced 
state of Judah. bv Esarhaddon. 
Manasseh, 60S. 



Contemporary Events in Egypt. 
— The Ethiopians had now for 
more than two hundred years 
contested the possession of Egypt. 
According to Herodotus, Sabaco 
the Ethiopian abandoned Egypt 
about B. c. 715, and was succeeded 
by Sethon, or So, an Egyptian 
priest, whose power was weakened 
by the disaffection of the military 
caste. Probably Sethon rtigned 
only in Lower Egypt, whilst Tir- 
hakah, an Ethiopian, successor of 
Sabaco and a powerful warrior, 
reigned in Upper Egypt. 



Restores idolatry and necromancy ; carried into As- 
syrian captivity by Esarhaddon, 677 ; humbles himself. 
Anion. 643.— Restores idolatry; slain by bis servants. 
Jo-iah, 641.— Seeks God in his youth; purges Judah and Israel from 
idolatry ; repairs 

Egypt increases in strength, whilst the Assyrian 
power is declining. After Sethon, Egypt was di- 
vided by civil war into twelve states, which at 
length merged into a single kingdom under Psam- 
metichus (b. c. 650), and nourished under Greek in- 
fluence. Necho, son of Psammeticbus, succeeded, 
B. c. 617, and fostered commerce, and defeated the 
Assyrians, but was at length overcome by the Chal- 
dee-Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar. 



Zeplmniah prophesied, cir. 630/ 
Jeremiah began to prophesy, 629. 
Habakkuk prophesied, cir. 626. 



the temple, 624 

book of the law 

found by Hilkiah 

and confirmed by 

Huldah; the altar 

of Jeroboam 

thrown down. 

Celebration of a 

solemn passover, 

623; decline of the 

Assyrian empire under Esarhaddon, 

Saosduchinus, and Chyniladanus ; 

invasion of Pharaoh-Necho; Josiah 

slain at Mesriddo, 610. 

Jehoahaz. 610.— Reigns wickedly; deposed by Pharaoh-Necho. 

Jeboiakim. 610.— Reigns wickedly; Jeremiah and Urijah prophesy 

against him. Charged by Jeremiah with the murder of Urijah. Jere- 
miah publicly foretells 0vprthrow of tlie Assyrian Power: rise of 
the Medo-Persian and Cbaldee-Babylonian 
Empires. — The Medes. who had revolted from 
the Assyrians B.C. 712, conquered the Per- 
sians and established an empire. The Chal- 
dees, about a century later, also revolted from 
Assyria under Nabopolassar, father of Neb- 
uchadnezzar, and seized Babylonia. Nabo- 
polassar then allied with Cyaxares, king of ihe 
Medes, and the two powers took Nineveh, 
about b. c. 606. The Medes then possessed 
Assyria Proper, and the Cbaldees all Babylon 
and its dependent, provinces. Nabopolassar 
was succeeded by Nebuchadnezzar very short- 
ly after. 
Jeboiakim revolts from Nebuchadnezzar, 603. 



the seventy years' cap- 
tivity, 607. Pharaoh- 
Necho defeated by Neb- 

UCHADNEZZAR, who 

soon after ascends the 
throne of the Chaklee- 
Babylonian kingdom. 
Nebuchadnezzar takes 
Jerusalem ; makes Je- 
boiakim tributary ; car- 
ries off Daniel and the 
three pious Jews, 606. 
Jeremiah's prophecies 
publicly read a second 
time. Jehoiakim seeks 
to destroy him, 605. 



Jerusalem blockaded ; Jeboiakim slain, 599. 

19. Jehoiachin. or Coniah, 599. — Neb- 
uchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem in per- 
son ; carries away Jehoiachin and 10,000 
captives, 599. 

20. Zedekiah.599.— False prophets predict the speedy return from captiv- 
ity . Zedekiah allies with Pharaoh- I Ezek5ol begins to pr0 p h esy, 
Hophra (called Apries by the Greeks), ' 
and rebels, 593. Nebuchadnezzar be- 

168 



Daniel begins to prophesy, 
cir. 600. 



595. 



TABLE OF KINGS OF JIIDAH— Continued. 



sieges Jerusalem ; retreat of Hophra, 590. Zedekiah secretly applies to 
Jereiuiali ; the princes throw the prophet into a pit, 589. Jerusalem 
taken, 588. Nebuzaradan sacks the city. Gedaliah appointed governor; 
slain by Ishmael. Jeremiah and Baruch go to Egypt; remnant of the 
people carried to Babylon. 

(For the history of Syria see sect. 493, note, and of Assyria, see sect. 554. For 
the life of Elijah see sect. 428, note, and of Elisha, see sect. 4f>3, note.) 



SUMMARY. 

I. History of the Single Monarchy. 

SAUL, 1005—1056. ABOUT FORTY YEARS. 

Prophets — Samuel and Gad. 

306. Defeat of the Ammonites, 1095,— Scarcely 
had Saul ascended the throne when Nahash, king of the 
Ammonites, marched into the territory east of the Jordan 
and besieged Jabesh-gilead. The inhabitants offered to 
surrender, but Nahash declared that he would only come 
to terms on condition of thrusting out the right eye of 
each of the besieged. The elders of the city obtained 
seven days' respite, and their messengers reached Saul, 
who immediately hewed a yoke of oxen to pieces and sent 
them throughout Israel, saying, " Whosoever cometh not 
forth after Saul, and after Samuel, so shall it be done 
unto his oxen." The people obeyed the summons, to the 
number of 300,000 Israelites and 30,000 men of Judah. 
The messengers returned to Jabesh-gilead with promise of 
help on the morrow, being the very day appointed for the 
surrender. Saul now divided his army into three divis- 
ions, and falling upon the Ammonites at morning watch 
he routed them by noon. The victory was followed by a 
national assembly at Gilgal, where Samuel confirmed the 
election of Saul by sacrifices and rejoicings, testified his 
own integrity, reproved the people for ingratitude to Je- 
hovah in demanding a king, punished their wickedness 
by calling down thunder and lightning upon the wheat 
harvest, and lastly reassured them by declaring that the 
Lord would not forsake them so long as they served him. 
1 Sam. xi. ; xii. 

307. Defeat of the Philistines ; Gallantry of Jon- 
athan, 10*J 3. — Saul had now dismissed all his numerous 

15 109 



170 l SAMUEL XIII., XIV. 



b. c 1093. 



army except 3000 men, 2000 of whom he retained at 
Michmash and Bethel under his own immediate orders, 
and placed the remaining 1000 under the command of his 
son Jonathan at Gibeah. At this time the country, or at 
least the southern tribes, was in subjection to the Philis- 
tines, and the latter had garrisons in the land and had 
deprived the Israelites of smiths,* so that only Saul and 
Jonathan possessed a sword or spear. Jonathan, how- 
ever, with his thousand men (probably bowmen and 
slingers), attacked and overcame a Philistine garrison 
stationed at Gibeah, upon which the Philistines assembled 
a host of 30,000 chariots and 6000 cavalry at Michmash, 
while Saul summoned a fresh army, and, in obedience 
to the command of Samuel, awaited the prophet's coming 
at Gilgal. Saul waited for seven days, being the time 
appointed, but Samuel never came, and the impetuous 
monarch, seeing that the country was panic-struck and 
his army leaving him, commenced offering the sacrifices 
with his own hand. Samuel arrived during the ceremony, 
rebuked Saul for his presumptuous disobedience, and 
threatened him with the loss of his kingdom. Saul now 
joined his son at Gibeah with an army dwindled to six 
hundred men, but a victory was obtained by the gallantry 
of Jonathan. The Philistines were securely encamped 
on the summit of a precipice, whence they descended in 
three companies and ravaged the country. The young 
prince and his armor-bearer climbed up the rocks, took 
the camp by surprise, and slew twenty of the garrison 
single-handed. A fearful panic seized the enemy ; they 
fled in the utmost confusion, slaying each other in their 
disorder ; whilst Saul and his army, strengthened by re- 
inforcements and deserters, fell upon the Philistines in 
their retreat and completed the victory. The defeat 
would have been decisive, but Saul had weakened his 
ranks by solemnly saying, " Cursed be the man that eateth 
before the evening !" and the stern monarch would have 
slain his own son for having inadvertently partaken of 
honey had not the heroic prince been rescued by the voice 
of the people. 1 Sam. xiii. ; xiv. 1-46. 

* A similar prohibition of iron was laid upon the Romans by Por- 
senna amongst the conditions of peace after Mucius Scgevola had at- 
tempted to assassinate him. 



b. c. 1079-1063. 1 SAMUEL XIV.-XVL 171 

308. Defeat of the Moabites, Edomites, Kings of 
Zobah, and Amalekites, 107 '9. — These brilliant suc- 
cesses were speedily followed by the conquest of the Mo- 
abites, Edomites, and kings of Zobah ; * and in b. c. 1079, 
Saul was sent by Samuel to destroy Amalek utterly. He 
accordingly levied an army of 200,000 Israelite infantry 
and 10,000 men of Judah, and defeated the Amalekites 
from Havilahj" to Shur, on the borders of Egypt, but 
saved their king, Agag, alive, together with the choicest 
flocks. Samuel met him on his return and bitterly re- 
proved him for his disobedience, assured him that the 
kingdom was rent from him, and slew Agag with his own 
hand. " And Samuel came no more to visit Saul until 
the day of his death." 1 Sam. xiv. 46-52 ; xv. 

309. David anointed King, 1063, — In b. c. 1063, 
Samuel was sent by God to anoint a son of Jesse to be 
king in the room of Saul. Having gone to Bethlehem to 
sacrifice, he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and first looked 
at Eliab the eldest, but rejected him because the Lord 
said, " Look not on his countenance nor on the height of 
his stature, because I have refused him ; for the Lord 
seeth not as man seeth ; for man looketh on the outward 
appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." Samuel 
also rejected Jesse's other sons, Abinadab, Shammah, Ne- 
thaneel, Raddai, and Ozem ; and, learning of Jesse that 
the youngest was left behind to keep the sheep, he sent 
for him, and found him to be a ruddy youth of a beauti- 
ful countenance ; and God said, " Arise, anoint him ; for 
this is he ;" and shortly afterward the young shepherd 
was called to court to charm away the evil spirit of the 
monarch by the melody of his harp. 1 Sam. xvi. 

310. Slags Goliath. — Twenty-six years had now passed 
since the overthrow of the Philistines at Michmash (sect. 
300), and the latter again invaded the territory of Judah. 
Saul marched against them, and the two armies encamped 



* Zobah was one of the cantons or petty states that existed in Syria 
before the erection of the kingdom of Damascus by Rezon. (See sect. 
362.) 

f This Havilah must have been situated near the south coast of fho 
Dead Sea. It is impossible that the army of Saul could have penetrated 
to the junction of the Euphrates and Tigris, where Bochart and Calmet 
place it. 



172 1 SAMUEL XVIL, XVIII. b. c. 1063. 

in the face of each other, on the sides of two opposite 
mountains separated by a valley. A Philistine named 
Goliath of Gath,six cubits and a span [11 feet 10 inches] 
in height, stood forth and proposed that the question of 
servitude should be decided by single combat, but no 
Israelite would accept the challenge. At this time David 
was with his father, whose three sons were in the Israelite 
army. Forty days having elapsed, Jesse sent David with 
a present of provisions to the captain of the thousand in 
which his sons were serving. Here David heard of Go- 
liath's challenge, and learnt that whoever could overcome 
the Philistine would be rewarded with great riches and 
the hand of Merab, the king's eldest daughter. Accord- 
ingly, though reproved by his brother, he presented him- 
self before Saul and offered to fight the giant, modestly 
observing that the same Jehovah who had delivered him 
from the lion and the bear would preserve him from the 
Philistine. He then, after declining the use of Saul's 
armor, set out to meet Goliath with only a staff, a sling, 
and five smooth stones from the brook. The gigantic 
warrior declared that he would give the flesh of David to 
the birds of the air and beasts of the field ; but the in- 
trepid youth replied, " I come to thee in the name of the 
Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom 
thou hast defied : this day will the Lord deliver thee into 
my hand." A stone from the sling of David struck Go- 
liath in the forehead, and the Philistine was decapitated 
with his own sword. The enemy fled, and were pursued 
to the gates of Ekron ;* and David was taken to the 
king's house, and the celebrated friendship commenced 
between him and Jonathan. 1 Sam. xvii. ; xviii. 1-4. 

311. Excites the Jealousy of Saul. — But the songs 
in honor of the victory, that " Saul had slain his thou- 
sands and David his ten thousands," alarmed the jealousy 
of the Hebrew king. Thrice the monarch threw a javelin 
at the warrior, but afterward attempted his death by 
more secret means. He made him captainf of a thou- 
sand, and by repeated promises of his eldest daughter 

* One of the five townships into which the Philistine power was 
divided. 

•J" This was a military office, and neither the head nor the judge of a 
thousand, mentioned in sect. 133. 



b. c. 1062. 1 SAMUEL XVIII., XIX. 173 

Merab, whose hand David had won by the slaughter of 
Goliath, he induced him to engage in hazardous enter- 
prises against the Philistines. The designs of Saul were 
frustrated and he gave Merab to another, but again hoped 
to accomplish his end by promising David a younger 
daughter, Michal, upon his slaying one hundred Philis- 
tines. This definite proposal was accepted ; David re- 
turned with trophies of the slaughter of two hundred of 
the enemy, and Saul was compelled to fulfil his promise. 
1 Sam. xviii. 5-30. 

312. Flies from Court, 1062. — This new alliance 
rendered David yet more illustrious, and Saul determined 
to destroy him at all hazards ; but the very efforts he 
made to secure the crown to his posterity endangered the 
succession and riveted the public attention on David. 
For some time Jonathan, the heir-apparent, who loved 
David as his own soul, preserved a friendly feeling be- 
tween his father and brother-in-law ; but some fresh ex- 
ploits of the latter against the Philistines brought back 
the evil spirit to Saul, and whilst David was endeavoring 
to restore the monarch by his harp he narrowly avoided 
a javelin from the royal hand, and the same night only 
escaped with his life by being let down from his window 
by Michal and having his place supplied by an image. 
David fled to Ramah, where Samuel resided, and the 
prophet took him to Naioth.* Three times Saul sent 
messengers to bring him back, but when the latter saw 
the company of prophets prophesying with Samuel at 
their head, they prophesied in like manner, and Saul, who 
subsequently went in person to enforce his commands, was 
similarly affected. 1 Sam. xix. 

313. His Covenant tvith Jonathan. — David now left 
Samuel and sought Jonathan at Gibeah, and asked in 
what way he had sinned, that Saul should seek his life. 
Jonathan could not believe that his father had enter- 
tained such a design, but the two friends at length agreed 
that David should absent himself from the approaching 
festival of the new moon,f in order to try the king's tem- 

* Naioth appears to have been a college of prophets near Ram ah, 
over which Samuel presided. 

f At this festival (see sect. 180) it appears to havo been customary 
for the king to entertain his principal otlicors. 

15* 



174 1 SAMUEL XX.-XXII. b. c. 1062. 

per, and that Jonathan should report the result, and a 
solemn covenant was then made between them. On the 
second day of the feast Saul missed David, and Jonathan 
excused his absence by saying that by his permission 
David had gone to sacrifice with his own family at Beth- 
lehem. Saul then grossly abused Jonathan, and assured 
him that his succession to the throne could never be se- 
cured whilst David lived, and that the latter should surely 
die. Jonathan ventured to remonstrate, but he narrowly 
escaped a javelin from the hand of his father. He now 
saw that David's life was in danger, and next morning 
went to the field where he was concealed. It had been 
settled between them that the manner in which Jonathan 
should shoot three arrows, and the expressions he should 
use to his attendant lad, were to intimate to David the 
course to pursue. The unfavorable sign was now given, 
and the two friends at length parted with many tears. 
1 Sam. xx. 

314. Goes to the Philistines, but at length returns 
to Judah. — After leaving Jonathan, David, and a few 
young men who were with him, went to Nob, a sacerdotal 
city about twelve miles from Gibeah. Here he told the 
high priest, Ahimelech, that he had been sent by Saul on 
a private mission, and, having obtained some shew-bread 
and the arms of Goliath, he fled to Achish, king of the 
Philistines, at Gath. Here he aroused the jealousy of the 
Philistine princes, but escaped by feigning himself insane. 
The cave of Adullam in Judah next afforded him con- 
cealment, where he was joined by his relatives and many 
who were discontented, and thus possessed a force of four 
hundred men. He now consigned his parents to the care 
of the king of Moab, and by the direction of the prophet 
Gad he retired from Adullam to the forest of Hareth. 
1 Sam. xxi. ; xxii. 1-5. 

315. Saul massacres the Priests at JS T ob. — Saul was 
dwelling at Gibeah when he heard of David's return and 
place of retreat, and whilst standing under a tree with 
his spear in his hand he indignantly cried to his officers 
around him, " Will the son of Jesse give you fields and 
vineyards, and make you captains of thousands and of 
hundreds, that you all conspire against me ?" Doeg the 
Edomite then told the king of the assistance David had 



c. 1061. 



1 SAMUEL XXIL, XXIII. 175 



received from Ahimelecli at Nob. Saul immediately sum- 
moned the high priest and all the priests of his family, 
and charged them with having conspired with David 
against him, and, without listening to their excuses, he 
commanded his body-guard to slay them. No one moved 
to obey the order, when the king turned to Doeg, who fell 
upon them and slew eighty-seven in that day. Doeg then 
marched against Nob and massacred alike the priests and 
women with their families and flocks, but Abiathar, the 
son of Ahimelech, escaped to David. 1 Sam. xxii. 6-23. 

316. David rescues Keilah, and retires to Ziph, 
Maori, and Engedi, civ. 1061. — About this time David 
heard that the Philistines had come up to carry away the 
harvest from the threshing-floors in Keilah, and he im- 
mediately marched against the enemy, defeated them with 
great slaughter, and relieved the town. Saul, hearing 
that David was still in Keilah, exclaimed, " God hath de- 
livered him into my hand, for he is shut in, by entering 
into a town that hath gates and bars ;" and he immediately 
prepared to besiege the city. David, however, was soon 
apprised of the threatened danger, and, being informed 
by the sacred oracle that the inhabitants of Keilah would 
deliver him up, he withdrew with his six hundred men 
to the wilderness of Ziph, in the eastern part of Judah, 
toward the Dead Sea. Saul sought him every day, but 
without success. Jonathan, however, met him in a wood, 
and said, " Saul, my father, shall not find thee, and thou 
shalt be king over Israel." Some Ziphites at length ac- 
quainted Saul with David's retreat, and the king, having 
blessed the informers, commenced a fresh pursuit. David 
withdrew southward into the wilderness of Maon, but was 
still followed by Saul ; and the latter reached one side of 
a mountain, whilst David was encamped on the other, 
when he was suddenly called off by the news of a Philis- 
tine invasion. 1 Sam. xxiii. 6-28. 

317. Forbears to slay Saul at Engedi, 1061. — 
David now sought refuge in the rocky heights in the wil- 
derness of Engedi, but his movements were betrayed, and 
Saul, having returned from the Philistine war, commenced 
scouring the mountains with 3000 men. It was at this 
period that the king happened to repose in a cave at noon, 
whilst David and his men were hidden by the darkness 



176 1 SAMUEL XXIIL-XXV. b. c. 1060-1058. 

of the inner extremity. The band of outlaws joyfully 
congratulated their captain upon having his enemy in his 
power, and David arose and cut off the skirts of Saul's 
robe ; but his heart soon smote him, and his habitual self- 
command stifled the desire for revenge. " The Lord for- 
bid," said the pious son of Jesse, " that I should stretch 
my. hand against the Lord's anointed !" He restrained 
his soldiers and aroused the monarch to a sense of his 
danger. The heart of Saul was touched ; the forbearance 
of David seemed to him like an act of superhuman virtue ; 
and he burst into tears and remorsefully confessed that 
the crown of Israel was indeed designed for a nobler and 
better man. Before they parted David took an oath that 
he would not destroy the family of the king, and Saul 
then returned to Gibeah. 1 Sam. xxiii. 29 ; xxiv. 

318. Death of Samuel, 1060 ; David marries Na- 
bal's wife. — In b. c. 1060, Samuel died, and was buried 
by all Israel at Kamah. The same year David left En- 
gedi for the wilderness of Paran, where Nabal churlishly 
refused to supply him with provisions.* David prepared 
to inflict summary punishment, but was stopped by Abi- 
gail, wife of Nabal, who pacified him by presents and 
conciliatory speeches. Ten days afterward Nabal died, 
and David sent for Abigail and married her ; at the same 
time he married Ahinoam of Jezreel, for Saul had given 
Michal to Phalti, son of Laish. 1 Sam. xxv. 

319. David forbears to slay Saul at Ziph, 1060, 
but flies to the Philistines, 1058. — David then re- 
turned to the wilderness of Ziph, but his retreat was 
again betrayed to Saul, who, forgetting his former repent- 
ance, once more scoured the country with 3000 men. 
Here the king was again reproved by the forbearance of 
David, who entered his camp at night and carried off the 
spear from his bolster and the cruse of water from his 
side, without inflicting on him the slightest personal in- 
jury. Saul once more confessed his own wickedness and 
the righteousness of his son-in-law. But David could not 
trust in his sincerity, and retired again in b. c. 1058 to 



* It is probable that David's forces had been of the utmost service to 
Nabal in protecting his flocks and shepherds from the depredations of 
the Arab races who roved about the southern borders. 



b.c. ] 056. 1 SAMUEL XXVI.-XXVIIL 177 

Achish at Gath, who gave him Ziklag* as a residence for 
himself and band. Here he remained until the death of 
Saul, a period of one year and four months, making oc- 
casional excursions against the Geshurites, Gezrites, and 
Amalekites,f and at the same time won the confidence of 
Achish by declaring that his expeditions had been direct- 
ed against Judah. 1 Sam. xxvi. ; xxvii. 

320. Philistine Invasion ; Saul consults the Witch 
of Endor, 1056. — The time of Saul's deuth now ap- 
proached, and a presentiment of evil oppressed his spirit. 
The Philistine armies under Achish had again invaded 
Palestine and encamped on Mount Gilboa, but Saul was 
no longer animated by military enthusiasm or confidence in 
Jehovah. He gazed upon the enemy's host with a trem- 
bling heart ; and when he inquired of the Lord, the Lord 
answered neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by the 
prophets. In this extremity he sought the' witch of En- 
dor in disguise, for he had previously cut off all wizards 
and those who had familiar spirits, and he now desired 
the woman to call from the grave his deceased friend and 
early counsellor, Samuel. The witch and the king were 
soon astonished by the actual appearance of the prophet 
from his tomb, but in the place of friendly consolation 
they heard nothing but fearful prophecies and mysterious 
denunciations. " The Lord," cried the terrible spectre, 
" will deliver thee and Israel into the hands of the Phil- 
istines, and to-morrow thou and thy sons shall be with 
me." 1 Sam. xxviii. 

321. Defeat and Suicide of Saul, 1056.— -The 
broken-hearted monarch returned to the fated field. The 
Israelites were defeated on the mountains of Gilboa ; the 
three sons of Saul, including Jonathan, were slain : and 
he himself, after begging his armor-bearer to thrust him 
through, fell upon his sword, and his faithful servant fol- 
lowed his example. The Philistines stripped the bodies 

* Whilst David was at Ziklag be received most important reinforce- 
ments from his own countrymen, and a long list has come down to us 
of more or less eminent persons who, through dissatisfaction with Saul, 
became voluntary exiles and staked all their prospects on David's 
cause. 1 Chron. xii. 1-22. 

j These were nomad races on the southern borders of Palestine. 
Gexhur was also the name of one of the early petty Syrian kingdoms. 
(See sect. 3:35.) 

M 



173 1 SAMUEL XXIX.-XXXI. b. c. 1056. 

of Saul and his sons. The head and armor of Saul they 
sent into Philistia, and the armor was subsequently placed 
in the temple of Ashtaroth ; but they fastened the corpses 
on the wall of Bethshan, a town west of the Jordan (af- 
terward called Scythopolis). The Jabesh-gileadites,* 
from the east of the Jordan, afterward recovered the 
bodies, burnt them, and buried them beneath a tree and 
fasted seven days. 1 Sam. xxix.-xxxi. ; 1 Chron. x. 

322. Character of Saul. — The character of Saul may 
be briefly drawn. Though distinguished as a warrior, 
yet he never neglected the internal affairs of his kingdom, 
and severely punished all idolatrous acts and rebellion 
against Jehovah. Though he incessantly labored to se- 
cure the succession to his family, he seems to have dis- 
charged the trust reposed in him for the good of the state ; 
no complaints were uttered against him after his death, 
but eleven tribes remained faithful to his son Ishbosheth. 
His great error consisted in refusing to rule in the spirit 
of theocracy — in forgetting that he was a vassal of Jeho- 
vah and bound to follow the divine commands in opposi- 
tion to his own views. He thus rendered himself unfit to 
become the founder of a royal house, as he could not be 
regarded as a worthy example for his successors. In per- 
son he was tall, and, when young, eminently handsome, 
but his appearance probably changed with his years, for 
we can only recall him as a gloomy, stern, and suspicious 
monarch. 

DAVID : over Judah, 1056-1048 ; over Judah and 
Israel, 1048-1015. — about forty years in all. 

Prophets, Nathan and Gad. 

323. Defeats the Amalekites and proclaimed at 
Hebron, 1056. — David was at Ziklag at the time of 
Saul's death. He had accompanied Achish in his expe- 
dition against Israel, but the Philistine princes were fear- 
ful lest their ancient enemy should prove a faithless ally, 
and Achish was compelled to dismiss both him and his 
band. On returning to Ziklag, David found that the 
Amalekites had pillaged and burnt the city and carried 

* The Jabesh-gileadites were probably grateful to Saul for having 
delivered them from the Ammonites. (Sect. 306.) 



b. c. 1048. 2 SAMUEL L, II. 179 

away the women and families. In the madness of grief 
his band talked of stoning him, but David having in- 
quired of God, and learnt the course of the ravagers from 
a sick Egyptian slave whom they had left behind, he fell 
upon the Amalekites the next evening, recovered the cap- 
tives and plunder, and seized so much additional booty 
that he was enabled to send presents to all the elders of 
Judah who had favored his cause. Two days after re- 
turning from the slaughter an Amalekite brought him the 
crown and bracelets which had been stripped from the 
corpse of Saul, and boasted that he himself had slain 
the king. David executed the messenger as a regicide, 
and lamented the death of Saul and Jonathan in a 
most affecting elegy. He then, in obedience to the sa- 
cred oracle, went up to Hebron, where the elders of Ju- 
dah anointed him king. David was now thirty years 
old ; he reigned over Judah at Hebron for seven years 
and six months, b. c. 1056-1048, whilst Ishbosheth, son 
of Saul, had been established over the remaining eleven 
tribes through the influence of Abner. 1 Sam. xxx. ; 2 
Sam. i. ; ii. 1-11. 

324. Abner joins David, but slain by Joab, 1048. 
— In b. c. 1053, Abner, who was now the commander of 
Ishbosheth's army, marched against Joab,* the com- 
mander under David, to reduce Judah to obedience. The 
two armies met at Gibeon, and twelve men from each side 
engaged in combat, but were all slain in the struggle. 
The battle then became general ; the army of Ishbosheth 
was defeated, and Abner only escaped by slaying Asahel, 
the brother of Joab, who pertinaciously pursued him. 
Some time afterward Ishbosheth quarrelled with Abner 
for being too free with Saul's concubine, Rizpah, and the 
indignant general immediately made arrangements for 
bringing over the eleven tribes to David. He went to 
Hebron and communicated with the elders of Israel — 
i. e. the national assembly (sect. 134) — and restored to 
David his former wife, Michal ; but his career was sud- 

* Joab was one of the three sons of Zeruiah, sister of David. Of 
these, Joab was slain at the horns of the altar, in the beginning of 
Solomon's reign, for his share in the rebellion of Adonijah (sect. 353). 
Asahel was slain by Abner, as recorded in the present section. The 
fate of Abiehai, the third, is unknown. 



180 2 SAMUEL II.-IV. b. c. 1048. 

denly closed by Joab, who treacherously assassinated 
him in revenge for the death of Asahel. 2 Sam. ii. 12- 
32; iii. 

325. Ishhosheth slain; David rides all Israel, 
1048. — The death of Abner called forth the tears of 
David, but heralded the downfall of his enemy. Whilst 
Ishbosheth was sleeping at midday he was murdered by 
his two captains, Baanah and Kechab, who carried his 
head to David in expectation of reward, but were sum- 
marily executed for their treachery. The elders of the 
eleven tribes — i, e. the national assembly (sect. 134) — 
then went to Hebron and anointed David to be their 
king ; " Because," they said, " under Saul thou wast our 
general, and Jehovah hath said of thee, Thou shalt rule 
my people." And David made a league with them in 
Hebron.* 2 Sam. iv. ; v. 1-5. 

326. Takes Jerusalem from the Jebusites. — After 
this David marched against Jebus, or Jerusalem,f which 
in consequence of its natural strength had been retained 
by the Jebusites in the centre of the Israelite population. 
The Jebusites defied his power, but David declared that 

* This was equivalent to a coronation oath, and denoted that David 
■was a constitutional, and not an arbitrary, monarch. 

f Description of Jerusalem. — Jerusalem is built on four hills — Zion, 
Millo or Acra, Moriah, and Bezetha — and is surrounded by a valley, 
again encompassed by high ground. The stronghold of the Jebusites 
was on the southern and larger hill of Zion, on which was subsequently 
built the City of David: but their town was built on the northern hill, 
called Millo in the Hebrew and Acra (or "citadel") in the Greek. 
Zion was subsequently called the Upper City, and Acra the Lower 
City, and the depression between the two mountains was filled up by 
Solomon. East of Millo and Zion was the flat-topped hill of Moriah, 
on which Solomon built the temple. The same king united Zion and 
Moriah by a causeway, and the Maccabees filled up the valley between 
Moriah and Millo. At a later period a fourth hill was included on the 
north of Moriah, called Bezetha. The brook Kidron winds round Je- 
rusalem on the north and east along the valley of Jehoshaphat. On 
the south of Zion lies the narrow valley of Hinnom or Tophet. The 
ravines on three sides of the ancient city form a natural defence. On 
the west the descents are more gradual, but are protected by depressions 
of moderate depth, which might have been easily fortified against the 
simple forms of attack known to the Hebrews. The hills which look 
down on Jerusalem, and lay it open to destructive attack from modern 
artillery, probably explain the abundance of spring-water for which 
the city has been celebrated; for in the numerous blockades which it 
has endured the besiegers are said to have been often distressed for 
want of water, the besieged never. 



b. c. 1043-1040. 2 SAMUEL V.-VII. 181 

whoever first scaled the wall and drove off the defenders 
should be made his chief captain. The feat was accom- 
plished by Joab, and the king took the stronghold of 
Zion and made the city his metropolis; and, with the 
assistance of artisans sent him by Hiram, king of Tyre, 
he built a palace on Mount Zion, which gave it the name 
of the City of David. 2 Sam. v. 6-16 ; 1 Chron. xi. 4-9. 

327. Defeats the Philistines, 1043. — In B.C. 1013 
the Philistines twice encamped in the valley of Rephaim, 
south of Jerusalem, but each time were routed by David. 
2 Sam. v. 17-25 ; 1 Chron. xi. 12-20 ; xiv. 8, 17. 

328. Removes the Arfo from Kirjath-jearhn to 
Jerusalem, 1042. — In b. c. 1042, David removed the 
ark from Kirjath-jearim to Jerusalem, but on the way 
Uzzah was slain by God for sacrilegiously touching it, and 
the king left it without the city, in the house of Obed- 
edom. Three months afterward, David, having seen that 
the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom, brought it 
to his own house with sacrifices and rejoicings. On this 
occasion Michal sharply taunted David with his unkingly 
dancing, but he answered her with humility and zeal, and 
perpetual barrenness was the punishment for her pre- 
sumption. David would now have built a temple for the 
ark, but was commanded by the prophet Nathan to relin- 
quish the design to his successor ; but Nathan at the same 
time predicted the glory of his posterity, saying, " I will 
raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons ; 
and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build me an 
house, and I will establish his throne for ever." 2 Sam. 
vi. ; vii. ; 1 Chron. xiii. ; xv.-xvii. 

329. Conquers the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, 
and Edomites, 1040. — In B.C. 1040, David prepared 
for an extensive war upon the bordering nations, and 
the most brilliant successes followed the progress of his 
armies. The Philistines were first vanquished, and Gath 
and its dependencies were taken by the Hebrews. David 
then conquered Moab, and, measuring the whole country 
with a line, he slew one half the nation and rendered the 
other half tributary. He next invaded the dominions of 
Hadadezer, king of Zobab (a Syrian state), and advan- 
cing to the Euphrates, he took from him one hundred 
chariots, seven hundred cavalry, and 20,000 infantry ; 

16 



182 2 SAMUEL VIIL, IX. b. c. 1040-1035. 

whilst the Syrians of Damascus, who marched to the as- 
sistance of the enemy, were defeated with the loss of 
22,000 men. David hamstrung the chariot-horses, reserv- 
ing a sufficient number for one hundred chariots ; he gar- 
risoned Syria and made the people tributary, and returned 
to Jerusalem with shields of gold and an immense quan- 
tity of brass. This victory was followed by a visit from 
Joram, son of Toi, king of Hamath (a Syrian state), who 
brought presents to David and congratulated him on his 
conquest. After the Syrian campaign the Israelite army 
turned southward and invaded Edom. The conquering 
Hebrews slew 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt, and 
garrisoned the whole country and made the people tribu- 
tary. By these conquests the dominions of David were 
extended to the Euphrates on the north and east, and to 
the Red Sea on the south. 2 Sam. viii. ; 1 Chron. xviii. 

330. Adopts Mephibosheth, 1040. — David, being 
now firmly established, fulfilled his former covenant with 
Jonathan by sending for his son Mephibosheth, whom he 
placed under the care of Ziba, an old servant of Saul's, 
and entertained at his own table. Mephibosheth had 
been lamed by his nurse in both feet during the flight 
from Jezreel on the arrival of the tidings of the deaths 
of Saul and Jonathan. 2 Sam. ix. 

331. Defeats the Ammonites and Syrians, 1037- 
1035, — In b. c. 1037, Nahash, king of the Ammonites, 
died, and David sent ambassadors to condole with his son 
Hanun. The Ammonite princes persuaded their new 
king that their messengers were sent as spies, and Hanun 
accordingly shaved off half their beards, cut off their 
garments, and sent them back to David ; and, seeing that 
a war would be now inevitable, he hired 20,000 infantry 
from the two Syrian states of Beth-rehob and Zoba; 
1000 men of King Maacah, in the immediate north of 
Palestine ; and 1 2,000 men of Tob, a small territory 
north of Manasseh and east of the Jordan. Joab was 
immediately sent by David against the combined forces. 
He divided his army into two divisions ; with the first, 
consisting of chosen men, he fell upon the Syrians, whilst 
he sent the other, under his brother Abishai, against the 
Ammonites. The enemy were routed on all sides, and 
the conquering Hebrews returned to Jerusalem. The 



b.c. 1035-1033. 2 SAMUEL X.-XII. 183 

next year, b. c. 1036, a fresh army of Syrians were col- 
lected by Hadadezer, but David quickly reassembled his 
forces, crossed the Jordan, and defeated him at Helam ; 
the fighting-men of seven hundred chariots and 40,000 
cavalry fell upon the field of battle, and Shobach, the 
commander-in-chief, was slain. This decisive victory pre- 
vented the Syrians from affording any further aid to the 
Ammonites, and the next year, b. c. 1035, David sent 
Joab to destroy Ammon and- besiege Rabbah — i. e. " chief 
city" — whilst he himself remained at Jerusalem. 2 Sam. 
x. ; 1 Chron. xix. 

332. Adultery with Bathsheha, 1035, — During the 
siege David was attracted by the beauty of Bathsheba, 
wife of Uriah, and sent for her to his palace whilst her 
husband was serving under Joab at Rabbah. The natural 
result followed the intercourse, and David sought to veil 
his guilt by sending for Uriah to Jerusalem, but the gal- 
lant soldier refused to sleep in his house whilst his com- 
panions-in-arms were encamped in the open fields. The 
disappointed monarch sent him back with directions to 
Joab to compass his death by placing him " in the fore- 
front of the hottest battle," and the adultery of David 
was quickly followed by the murder of Uriah. Scarcely 
was the mourning of Bathsheba completed when David 
made her his wife and she bore him a son. The anger of 
the Lord was now aroused, and Nathan was sent to David, 
and by the parable of the poor man's ewe lamb forced 
the king to become his own judge. He then assured 
David that in punishment for his crime the sword should 
never depart from his house, that evil should be raised up 
against him in his own family, that his own wives should 
be openly abused, and that the child of Bathsheba should 
die. 2 Sam. xi. ; xii. 1-12. 

333. Death of his Child, 1034 ; Solomon born, 
1033; Rabbah taken, 1033. — David confessed and 
repented of his crime, but scarcely had Nathan left his 
presence when his child by Bathsheba was seized with 
sickness, and though he prayed and fasted before God, 
yet it died on the seventh day after. The bereaved 
parents were at length comforted, and Bathsheba bore 
Solomon in b. c. 1033. Meanwhile, Joab had reduced 
Rabbah to extremities, and sent to David to come in 



184 2 SAMUEL XII., XIII. b. c. 1032-1027. 

person and take the honors of the capture. David then 
went down and took the city ; the royal crown, rich with 
jewels, and weighing a talent of gold [170 oz. =£680],* 
was transferred to his head, and the inhabitants were 
either slain or made to labor in brick-kilns or with saws, 
axes, and harrows. 2 Sam. xii. 13-31 ; 1 Chron. xx. 
1-3. 

334. Tamar abused by Amnon, 1032, — The fear- 
ful prophecies of Nathan were now to be accomplished in 
the family of David, and a revolting outrage divided the 
royal household, and ultimately led to fratricide and re- 
bellion. Amnon, son of David by Ahinoam, being in 
love with his half-sister Tamar, incestuously abused her. 
The injured princess rent her garments and put ashes on 
her head, when her brother Absalom met her, learnt the 
cause of her grief, enjoined her to secrecy, and received 
her into his own house. 2 Sam. xiii. 1-20. 

335. Amnon slain, and Absalom exiled, JL030. — 
For two years Absalom never spoke to his brother Am- 
non ; but in b. c. 1030 he invited all his brothers to his 
sheep-shearing, and Amnon amongst them. During the 
feast Amnon was assassinated by the servants of Absalom, 
who instantly fled to the king of Geshur, whilst his re- 
maining brothers returned to weep with their sorrowing 
father. 2 Sam. xiii. 20-38. 

336. Return of Absalom, 1027 » — After three years 
David forgot the murder of Amnon and mourned for the 
return of Absalom ; and Joab, by means of a wise woman 
of Tekoah, persuaded the king to send to Geshur for the 
refugee. Absalom then returned to Jerusalem, and was 
praised throughout Israel as the most beautiful man in 
the kingdom ; and his hair, which was annually polled, is 
said to have weighed two hundred royal shekels [91 oz.]. 
For two years longer David refused to see his favorite 
son, and Joab, who had been twice sent for by Absalom 
to effect a reconciliation, persisted in declining to come. 
At length, in b. c. 1025, Absalom obtained an interview 
with the commander-in-chief by the ingenious device of 
firing his field of barley, and Joab mediated between the 

* The Syriac talent weighed fifteen Attic minae, or oue-fourth of the 
common Attic talent. 



b. c. 1023. 2 SAMUEL XIII.-XV. 185 

father and son, and " the king kissed Absalom." 2 Sam. 
xiii. 39 ; xiv. 

337. Absalom's Revolt, 1023. — The last and severest 
calamity threatened by Nathan was now to be inflicted 
upon David, but the aged monarch was prepared to en- 
dure the affliction with a submissive humility which 
proved the depth of his piety and sincerity of his repent- 
ance. His son Absalom had won the hearts of all Israel 
by fair speeches and courteous behavior. In b. c. 1023 
he obtained the permission of David to go to Hebron 
under the pretence of performing a vow ; but he sent 
spies throughout all the tribes, saying, "As soon as ye 
hear the sound of the trumpet ye shall say, Absalom 
reigneth in Hebron." He then left Jerusalem with two 
hundred men totally ignorant of his design, and on arriv- 
ing at Hebron he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's 
counsellor, whilst fresh adherents rapidly poured in and 
strengthened the conspiracy. 2 Sam. xv. 1-12. 

338. David leaves Jerusalem. — Directly David heard 
of this formidable revolt he retired from Jerusalem to 
avoid a sudden attack, and left ten concubines to keep 
his house. All his servants followed him, with the Cher- 
ethites, Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites* from Gath, 
under Ittai ; and though David especially advised Ittai 
to return because he was an exile, the latter declared his 
determination to follow him until death. Zadok and 
Abiathar the priests had also borne the ark after the 
king, but David ordered them to carry it back to the city 
and send him an account of future proceedings by their 
two sons, Ahimaaz, son of Zadok, and Jonathan, son of 
Abiathar. David and his followers, weeping and bare- 
foot, then ascended Mount Olivet, where he heard that 
Ahithophel — "whose counsel," says the sacred record, 
" was like the oracle of God " — had joined Absalom in 
the revolt. David prayed that his advice might be turned 
into foolishness, and shortly afterward was joined by Hu- 
shai the Archite, whom he desired to join Absalom and 
endeavor to defeat Ahithophel and communicate through 



* These Cherethites, Pelethites, and Gittitos appear to have heen 
foreign troops from Philistia and the neighborhood, whom David had 
taken into his pay. 

16* 



186 2 SAMUEL XV.-XVII. 



c. 1023. 



Jonathan and Ahimaaz. After passing the summit of 
Olivet, David was met by Ziba, the servant of Mephibo- 
sheth, with two asses laden with provisions. On being 
asked for his master, Ziba falsely replied that he stayed 
at Jerusalem to receive Absalom, upon which the king 
transferred to him all that he had previously given to 
Mephibosheth. At Bahurim, Shimei, a member of Saul's 
house, came forth and cursed and threw stones at David 
and his people ; but though Abishai, son of Zeruiah and 
brother of Joab, begged permission to slay the rebel, 
David indignantly refused, choosing rather to bear with 
an indignity which he considered to be a chastening from 
Jehovah. 2 Sam. xv. 13-37 ; xvi. 1-14. 

339. David's Concubines Insulted, — Meanwhile, Ab- 
salom had reached Jerusalem with Ahithophel and been 
joined by Hushai. His first act was in accordance with 
the advice of Ahithophel, and, whilst it proved the con- 
summate wisdom of the counsellor, it fulfilled the most 
mysterious prophecy of Nathan. To assure the people 
that the breach between himself and his father was irrep- 
arable, and that no sacrifice of his adherents would ob- 
tain a pardon for himself, he publicly abused his father's 
ten concubines. 2 Sam. xvi. 15-23. 

340. AhitlioplieV s Counsel Rejected. — Ahithophel 
then advised Absalom to send him at the head of 10,000 
men to pursue David and smite him whilst his people 
were weary ; but Hushai opposed this by saying that 
David was a valiant man, and recommending that they 
should wait until all Israel were on their side, and thus be 
certain of victory before they ventured on a battle. This 
foolish proposal was immediately accepted by Absalom, 
and Hushai forwarded the news to David through the 
sons of Zadok and Abiathar. The two messengers nar- 
rowly escaped apprehension. They had waited at the 
Pool of Siloam, without Jerusalem, where a wench brought 
them the message, but a lad saw them, and told Absalom, 
who instantly ordered them to be pursued ; and they would 
have been taken at Bahurim, where Shimei cursed David, 
had not a woman hid them in a well and misdirected the 
pursuers. 2 Sam. xvii. 1-20. 

341. David prepares for Battle. — Upon learning 
that Hushai's advice was taken, David crossed the Jor- 



b. c. 1023. 2 SAMUEL XVIL, XVIII. 187 

dan and marched to Mahanaim, where his army were re- 
freshed and strengthened by the generous hospitality of 
Shobi, son of Nahash the Ammonite, Barzillai the Gilead- 
ite, and Machir, son of Ammiel. David then divided his 
forces into three divisions, the first under Joab, the second 
under Abishai, and the third under Ittai the Gittite ; and 
after reviewing the soldiers and strictly charging the gen- 
erals to deal gently with Absalom, he sent them to the 
battle, whilst he himself remained in the city. 2 Sam. xvii. 
22, 24, 26-29 ; xviii. 1-5. 

342. Absalom's Defeat and Death, 1023. — Mean- 
time, the party of Absalom had lost its best supporter, for 
Ahithophel was so hurt at the rejection of his advice that 
he returned home, set his affairs in order, and committed 
suicide. Absalom now made Amasa commander of his 
host, and, crossing the Jordan in pursuit of David, he en- 
camped in Gilead. The battle was fought in the wood of 
Ephraim,* but became quickly scattered over the whole 
country, for the army of Absalom was soon divided and 
routed by the veterans of David. Whilst Absalom was 
riding on a mule during the engagement, his hair caught 
in the branches of an oak and kept him hanging. This 
being told to Joab, he hurried to the place and thrust 
three darts through the heart of Absalom, whilst ten 
young men who bore his armor completed the murder, 
threw the body into a pit, and covered it with stones. 
The news was carried to David by Ahimaaz and Cushi, 
but the agony of the father overcame the exultation of 
the king, and in the bitterness of grief he cried, on the 
eve of victory, " O Absalom, my son, my son ! would God 
I had died for thee !" 2 Sam. xvii. 23, 25 ; xviii. 6-33. 

343. David returns to Jerusalem. — The remon- 
strances of Joab and discontent of the people at length 
aroused David to a sense of his regal duty. He sent to 
Zadok and Abiathar to call upon the elders of Judah to 
bring back their monarch, and to reassure Amasa, the 
late commander-in-chief of Absalom, by a promise of the 
generalship of his own army in the room of the murderer 
of his son. All Judah now assembled at Gilgal to attend 
their king over Jordan and welcome his return. Amongst 

* This forest was on the east of Jordan, in the tribe of Gad. 



188 2 SAMUEL XIX., XX. b. c. 1022. 

others was Shimei, who had cursed David at Bahurim, 
but who uow prayed for forgiveness, and was pardoned in 
spite of the remonstrances of Abishai. Ziba also came 
with his fifteen sons and twenty servants, and Mephibo- 
sheth, who testified his own loyalty and complained of the 
treachery of his servant ; and David now divided between 
the two the possessions which he had formerly given to 
Mephibosheth and afterward transferred to Ziba. Bar- 
zillai the Gileadite also came to congratulate David, for 
whom he had provided provisions at Mahanaim. He was 
eighty years old, and the king blessed and kissed him, 
and, as he declined going farther on account of his age, 
David took his son Chimham and rewarded him as he 
would have done his father. 2 Sam. xix. 1-40. 

344. Dissensions between Judah and Israel ; Re- 
volt of Israel tinder Sheba, 1022. — When David 
reached his palace he imprisoned the ten concubines 
whom Absalom had abused, and condemned them to per- 
petual widowhood. Meantime, the kingdom was shaken 
by a fierce dispute which ended in a revolt. The Israel- 
ites complained that the men of Judah had not consulted 
them in bringing back David ; to which Judah replied at 
first with sarcastic taunts, and afterward with fierce re- 
crimination. Whilst the quarrel was at its height, Sheba, 
a Benjamite, blew a trumpet and cried in the language 
of rebellion, " We have no part in David, nor inheritance 
in the son of Jesse : to your tents, O Israel !" David 
immediately ordered Amasa, his new commander-in-chief, 
to assemble the warriors of Judah within three days to 
put down the revolt ; but Amasa did not return at the 
appointed time, and David, getting alarmed, sent Abi- 
shai, brother of Joab, to seize Sheba before he could take 
any fenced cities. 2 Sam. xix. 41-43 ; xx. 1-6. 

345. Amasa and Sheba slain, 1022. — Abishai in- 
stantly marched against the rebels with Joab's men and 
the Cherethites and Pelethites (see note to sect. 338) ; but 
at Gibeon he overtook Amasa, and the latter was then 
treacherously assassinated by Joab for having superseded 
him in the command of the army. All the people now 
followed Joab, who with his accustomed energy marched 
through all the tribes until he came to Abel of Beth- 
maachah, where Sheba was abiding; and when he had 



B. c. 1022-1017. 2 SAMUEL XX.-XXIIT. 189 

cast up a bank and battered the wall, a wise woman saved 
the city by persuading the inhabitants to cut off the head 
of Sheba and send it to Joab. 2 Sam. xx. 6-20. 

346. Famine for Three years, 1022—1019 ; Atone- 
ment for Saul's Slaughter of the Gibeonites, 1019. — 
Scarcely had peace been established when the land was 
visited by a three years' famine, and David learnt from 
God that it was caused by the previous slaughter of the 
Gibeonites by Saul. These Gibeonites were a remnant of 
the Amorites, but had artfully obtained an alliance with 
the Hebrews in the time of Joshua (see sect. 258) ; and 
many of the present race had been slain by Saul in his 
zeal against the enemies of Israel. David asked the Gib- 
eonites what atonement they required, upon which they 
refused a blood-fine of silver or gold, but demanded 
that seven of Saul's remaining sons should be delivered 
up to them for execution. David then spared Mephi- 
bosheth, but gave them the two sons of Eizpah, Saul's 
concubine, and the five sons of Merab, Saul's eldest 
daughter, who had been promised to David, but given to 
Adriel. The Gibeonites hung the victims on a hill, but 
Rizpah clothed herself in sackcloth and guarded their 
bodies. David then fetched the bones of Saul and Jon- 
athan from the Jabesh-gileadites, who had carried them 
off from the walls of Beth-shan, where they had been ex- 
posed by the Philistines as victorious trophies (sect. 321). 
They were now buried by David in the sepulchre of Kish, 
father of Saul, in the tribe of Benjamin. 2 Sam. xxi. 1-14. 

347. David's last Expedition against the Philis- 
tines, 1018. — In b. c. 1018 the Philistines again de- 
clared war, and David marched against them, but it was 
his last expedition. During the fight the aged monarch 
was attacked by Ishbi-benob, a gigantic Philistine, and 
would have fallen but for the aid of Abishai, who slew 
the formidable enemy ; and the army then declared that 
the light of Israel should no more be risked in battle. 
The war was concluded after three other Philistine giants 
of the family of Goliath had been slain by three heroes 
of Israel. 2 Sam. xxi. 15-22 ; xxii. ; xxiii. 

348. Numbering of the People, and 70,000 slain 
by Pestilence, 1017. — In b. c. 1017, David, in opposi- 
tion to the divine command and the remonstrances of 



190 2 SAMUEL XXIV.-l KINGS I. b. c. 1051. 

Joab, ordered the latter to number the people, upon which 
there was found to be 800,000 fighting men of Israel and 
500,000 of Judah. Scarcely had David learnt the result 
when he repented of the crime, and God sent the proph- 
et Gad to offer him the choice of three punishments — 
viz. three years' famine, three months' destruction from 
the enemy, or three days' pestilence. David chose the 
latter, and 70,000 people were slain by a plague, but Je- 
rusalem was saved, and the Lord stayed the hand of the 
destroying angel by the threshing-floor of Araunah the 
Jebusite on the summit of Moriah. David immediately 
bought the threshing-floor and oxen for fifty silver she- 
kels [22f oz. = £5 13s. 8c?.]*, and, erecting an altar on the 
spot, he showed his gratitude in burnt-offerings and peace- 
offerings to Jehovah. 2 Sam. xxiv. ; 1 Chron. xxi. 

349. Revolt of Adonijah, 1051; Solomon de- 
clared Successor. — David was now extremely old, and 
required the attendance of a Shunammite virgin named 
Abishag. Adonijah, son of David by Haggith, seeing 
the monarch's decrepitude, and having conferred with 
Joab the commander-in-chief and Abiathar the high 
priest, chose this moment for declaring himself king in 
opposition to Solomon, whom David had appointed to be 
his successor. Nathan immediately brought the news to 
Bathsheba, and advised her to carry it to David, and he 
would follow and confirm it. Bathsheba then entered the 
king's presence, and whilst telling him of the rebellion 
Nathan went into the royal chamber and requested to 
know whom he had appointed to be his successor. David 
signified before them both his desire that Solomon should 
reign after him, and ordered Nathan, Zadok, and Benaiah 
to proclaim him king. Solomon was accordingly anoint- 
ed ; the trumpet was blown and the people cried, " God 
save King Solomon!" and the tidings was carried to 
Adonijah whilst feasting his adherents. All the guests 
were struck with a panic, and Adonijah fled to the horns 
of the altar, but being reassured by Solomon, he gave 
himself up and was jmrdoned. 1 Kings i. 

* In 1 Chron. xxi. 25 it is said that David gave Araunah six hundred 
shekels of gold. It is therefore supposed that subsequently, when 
David knew that this spot was chosen as a site for the temple, he made 
Araunah a further remuneration. 



B. c. 1015. 1 KINGS II. 191 

350. Death of David, 1015.— The dying hour of 
the old king soon arrived, and his last moments appear 
to have been employed in counselling his son and succes- 
sor. He strictly charged him to walk in accordance with 
the laws of God, and to build the temple to Jehovah; 
and he warned him to punish the crimes of Joab and 
Shimei, but to show kindness to the family of Barzillai 
the Gileadite. So David slept with his fathers, and was 
buried in the City of David, b. c. 1015. 1 Kings ii. 1-11 ; 
1 Chron. xxii. ; xxviii. ; xxix. 

351. Character of David. — As a man David was a 
true Israelite, and as a king he was a faithful vassal of 
Jehovah. The piety, courage, and humility of his youth 
prepared him for that severe discipline of body and mind 
which he underwent in his persecuted wanderings ; and 
whilst his genius as a king drew around him the great 
and distinguished spirits of his age, it led him to deal 
wisely and cautiously with the crafty and ambitious. He 
governed as the vice-regent of Jehovah, and though in 
two notable instances he fell into grievous sin and incur- 
red the just punishment of God, yet his humble confes- 
sion and sincere repentance are held out as a warning to 
all future generations. By his strict adherence to duty 
and confidence in God he set a worthy example to his 
successors ; and, to crown all, he was an eminent type of 
that glorious Messiah who was to be born of his lineage 
and sit upon his throne for ever. 

David was an affectionate friend, a generous enemy, a 
brave warrior, and a wise monarch. The fame of his 
youthful harp reached the ears of the court, and his mel- 
odies charmed the evil spirit from Saul, whilst the glow- 
ing poetry, lofty imagery, and fervent piety of his Psalms 
have elevated the devotions of all Jews and Christians 
for 3000 years, and earned for the glorious inspiration of 
their author a universal and undying popularity. 

SOLOMON, b. c. 1015-975 = 40 years. 
Prophet — A hijah. 

352. Extent of the Kingdom. — The reign of Solomon 
is the most splendid period of Hebrew history. His king- 
dom was the ruling monarchy in Western Asia, and ex- 



192 1 KINGS II. 



B.C. 1014-1011. 



tended from the Euphrates to the Mediterranean and 
from Phoenicia to the Eed Sea ; whilst the warlike and 
civilized Philistines, the Edomites, Moabites, and Am- 
monites, the nomad Arabians of the desert, and the 
Syrians of Damascus, were alike tributary to the suc- 
cessor of David. 1 Kings iv. 20, 21. 

353. Joab and Adonijah slain, and Abiathar 
banished, 1011 ; Shimei slain, 1011. — Solomon as- 
cended the throne at the age of eighteen, and his first 
acts were in accordance with the dying advice of his 
father. His eldest brother, Adonijah, had persuaded 
Bathsheba to ask from Solomon permission to marry 
Abishag, the attendant of David ; but the king was so 
enraged at the deep scheme which dictated this request 
that he slew Adonijah by the hand of Benaiah and pun- 
ished his two principal adherents. Abiathar, in remem- 
brance of former services to David, was only banished to 
Anathoth, but Joab, who, with conscious guilt, had fled 
to the horns of the altar, met with the fate of Adonijah. 
1 Kings ii. 11-35. 

354. CJiaracter of Joab, — The character of Joab de- 
mands a passing notice. He was the son of Zeruiah, Da- 
vid's sister, and was made commander-in-chief because he 
had been the first to mount the walls of Jebus and beat 
off the Jebusites. (See sect. 326.) The success of his 
arms and energy of his movements soon proved that he 
possessed military talents of the highest order, but he was 
cruel and unscrupulous in the attainment of his ends. He 
had avenged the death of his brother Asahel by the assas- 
sination of Abner and gratified his jealousy by the slaugh- 
ter of Amasa. He had mortally offended the old monarch 
by compassing the death of Absalom, and aroused the 
fears of his successor by joining in the rebellion of Adon- 
ijah ; and the genius of the commander would not atone 
for the treacheries of the assassin, nor a long service for 
a base desertion. 

355. Shimei slain, 1011. — Shimei, another suspicious 
character, met with a similar fate. He had not followed 
Adonijah, but had cursed David at Bahurim, and at first 
was suffered to live in peace upon promising not to leave 
Jerusalem. Three years afterward two of his servants 
fled to Achish, and he followed them to Gath and 



b. c. 1014. 1 KINGS II., III. 193 

brought them back, upon which Solomon reproached 
him with his guilt, and he fell by the hand of Benaiah. 
1 Kings ii. 36-46. 

356. Solomon's Marriage with Pharaoh's Daugh- 
ter, 1014 ; his Singular Wisdom. — In B. c. 1014, Sol- 
omon married the daughter of Pharaoh, and brought her 
to the city of David until he should have built a palace 
for himself, a temple for the Lord, and a wall around Je- 
rusalem. He loved the Lord and walked in the statutes 
of his father, but the people, having no temple, sacrificed 
in high places, of which Gibeon was the chief. On one 
occasion, whilst staying at this place, the Lord appeared 
to Solomon at night in a dream and bade him ask what 
most he desired. Solomon begged for an understanding 
heart, when Jehovah not only granted his prayer, but 
promised him riches and honor above all contemporary 
kings, together with length of days, if he kept the stat- 
utes of the God of his fathers. The wisdom of the young 
king soon excited the astonishment and admiration of the 
whole nation. Two mothers, living alone in one house, 
came before him. One complained that the other, hav- 
ing had her child die in the night, had exchanged its 
corpse for the living child of the complainant. The 
other denied the charge, and no witnesses could be 
brought to prove the identity of the infants. Solomon 
elicited the truth by preparing to divide the living child, 
when the false mother discovered herself by the uncon- 
cern she showed for its life, whilst the real parent begged 
that it might be preserved, even if given up to the other. 
1 Kings iii. ; 2 Chron. i. 1-12. 

357. Commerce of Solomon. — The profoundest peace 
was soon established throughout the dominions of Solomon. 
Every man dwelt in safety under his own vine and his 
own fig tree from Dan to Beer-shcba. An alliance with 
Egypt and Phoenicia enabled the wisest king to carry on 
an extensive commerce by land and sea. He built the 
magnificent city of Tadmor,* afterward called Palmyra, 
in Syria, on an oasis in the desert, for the convenience of 
caravans which traded with Babylon. He formed a navy, 

*2 Chron. viii. 4: Josephi, Ant. Jud. VIII. vi.; Ilccren's Asiutic 
Hesemchen, ii. 3'J3j Wood's Palmyra <tnd Baalbcc, etc. 

17 N 



194 1 KINGS IV., V. b. c. 1012-992. 

"which was partly manned by Phoenician sailors, and his 
ships traversed the Mediterranean to the Pillars of Her- 
cules, or sailed from Elath and Ezion-geber, on the Red 
Sea, to the golden regions of the far East. Horses, char- 
riots, and linen yarn were brought from Egypt; gold and 
silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks from Tarshish, or Tar- 
tessus, on the southern coast of Spain ; gold, jewels, and 
spices from the mysterious realms of Ophir on the coast 
of Arabia, Eastern Africa, or the southern peninsula of 
India ; and cedars and firs were floated on the Mediter- 
ranean by the Phoenician king, Hiram, and carried from 
the heights of Lebanon to the metropolis of Palestine. 
Whilst David had vanquished the surrounding monarchs, 
Hiram, king of Tyre, was allied to him by a close friend- 
ship, which was now continued to Solomon to their mu- 
tual advantage. The mountainous territory of the Phoeni- 
cians was but little adapted for agriculture, a^nd Palestine 
became their granary. The corn of Judaea, which excelled 
that of Egypt ; the vine, which was indigenous to the soil ; 
the oil, which is superior to that of Provence ; the balm, 
which was collected in the lands round Lake Gennesa- 
reth, and is still famous under the name of balsam of 
Mecca, — were all exchanged by Solomon for the luxuri- 
ous riches of distant climes.* 1 Kings iv. ; v. ; ix. 26-28 ; 
x. 22-29 ; 2 Chron. i. 13-17. 

358. Building of the Temple and Palaces, 1012- 
992. — In b. c. 1012, after reigning three years, Solomon 
commenced building his celebrated temple ; after which 
he erected a palace for himself, another of cedar in the 
forest of Lebanon, and a third for the daughter of Pha- 
raoh. The whole were completed in twenty years; of 
this period, between three and four years were spent in 
collecting materials for the temple, and seven years and 
six months were employed in raising and decorating it. 
Upon this sacred structure the boundless genius of a mag- 
nificent king lavished all that wealth could purchase or art 
could execute ; 70,000 proselytes, descendants of the Ca- 
naanites, were employed in carrying burdens ; 80,000 in 
cutting stone out of the quarries ; 3600 as overseers ; to- 

* Heeren's Asiatic Researches, i. 362. 



b. c. 1005. 1 KINGS VI., VII. 195 

gether with 30,000 Israelites in the quarries of Libanus. 
1 Kings vi. ; vii. ; 2 Chron. ii. 

359. Description of the Temple. — The temple was 
built on the summit of Mount Moriah, near Mount Zion, 
in Jerusalem, where Abraham had prepared to offer Isaac, 
and where the angel had appeared to David when the 
pestilence was stayed over the threshing-floor of Arau- 
nah. The site was enlarged by the erection of a strong 
wall of square stone around the mountain, with the in- 
tervening space filled up with earth. Another wall, 
with an interior colonnade, surrounded the whole struc- 
ture, thus forming two courts ; the inner one being called 
the court of the temple, and containing the sacred furni- 
ture and vestments of the priests and Levites ; whilst in 
the outer one were erected the magazines for the wine, 
corn, oil, and wood used in the divine service. The tem- 
ple itself is supposed to have been 70 cubits [128 feet] 
long, 20 cubits [36 feet] broad, and 30 cubits [54 feet] 
high, with a portico or porch 20 cubits [36 feet] broad 
like the main building, but 120 cubits [216 feet] high. 
The Holy Place was 40 cubits [72 feet] long, and the 
Holy of Holies 20 cubits [36 feet]. The interior edifice 
was built upon the plan of the tabernacle, but of much 
larger dimensions. The internal decorations are difficult 
to comprehend, and the reader of the sacred volume is 
bewildered and astonished by elaborate descriptions of 
cedar walls and golden roofs richly carved with flowers 
and cherubim ; carved floors overlaid with gold ; golden 
altar, shew-bread table, and cherubim ; golden doors, 
chains, candlesticks, censers, basins, lamps*, tongs, and 
hinges ; veils of blue, purple, and crimson ; brazen seas, 
lavers, wheels, oxen, and lions ; brazen pillars thirty -two 
feet high and twenty-one feet round, and with chapiters 
or capitals nine feet higher, all richly carved with net- 
work, chain-work, pomegranates, and lilies; and such 
was the rich profusion of metal that its weight was 
never ascertained. 1 Kings vi. ; vii.; 2 Chron. ii.-iv. 

360. Dedication, 1005. — In the seventh month of 
the tenth year of the reign the temple was solemnly ded- 
icated to Jehovah. The priests, Levites, and singers were 
all arrayed in their sacred vestments ; the trumpets and 
cymbals were sounded ; and the sacred ark, containing 



196 1 KINGS VIIL, IX. b. c. 1005. 

the tables of stone which Moses had placed there at 
Horeb, was carried by the priests and set beneath the 
cherubim. Then the glory of the Lord filled the house 
of the Lord, and the youthful king stood before the altar 
in the presence of all Israel, and offered up an affecting 
and appropriate supplication to the God of Abraham. 
The service was concluded with sacrifices and rejoicings ; 
and, the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time at 
Gibeon, and promised to protect his chosen people as 
long as they walked in his statutes, but to reject them 
utterly should they forsake his way.* 1 Kings viii. ; 
ix. 1-25 ; 2 Chron. v.-vii. 

* Subsequent History of the Temple, B. C. 1005-588. — After the conse- 
cration or dedication of Solomon's temple it underwent many revo- 
lutions. 

b. c. 972. Only thirty-three years after its dedication it was plundered 
by Shishak, king of Egypt. 

b. c. 856. Joash, king of Judah, collected money for repairing it, and 
the work was commenced in earnest. 

B. c. 740. Ahaz, king of Judah, robbed it of its gold and treasures to 
bribe Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, to attack the kings of Israel and 
Syria. He afterward took away the brazen altar and replaced it by a 
copy of one he had seen at Damascus, and subsequently pillaged it, 
broke the sacred vessels, and shut it up. 

B. c. 726. Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, reopened the temple, and purified 
and repaired it, but in B. c. 713 he was forced to take its riches and 
bribe Sennacherib to leave his dominions. 

B. c. 698. Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, set up altars and idols in the 
courts of the temple, but afterward repented and removed them. 

B. c. 624. Josiah repaired tbe temple and replaced the priests. 

B. c. 606. Nebuchadnezzar plundered it in the reign of Jehoiakim. 

b. c. 599. Nebuchadnezzar carried away others of its vessels in the 
reign of Jehoiachin or Jeconiah. 

b. c. 588. Nebuchadnezzar entirely destroyed it in the eleventh year 
of Zedekiah's reign. 

The Second Temple, B. C. 535. — Zerubbabel, the grandson of King 
Jehoiachin, and Jeshua, grandson of Seraiah, the high priest, laid the 
foundation of the second temple in b. c. 535, but were impeded in the 
building by the machinations of the Samaritans, and it was not com- 
pleted until the reign of Darius Hystaspis, b. c. 515. (See sect. 580.) 
It was twice the size of Solomon's temple, both in breadth and height, 
but it wanted five things — viz. 1. The ark and mercy-seat. 2. The vis- 
ible glory of the Shechinah or divine presence. 3. The holy fire of the 
altar. 4. The Urim and Thummim (sect. 162). 5. The spirit of proph- 
ecy. This temple was plundered and profaned by Antiochus Epiphanes, 
B. c. 170, and the idol of Jupiter Olympius was set up near the altar, 
and the sacrifices discontinued for three years, when it was restored by 
Judas Maccabeus. 1 Mace. iv. 52. 

Temple of Herod, B. C. 17 to A. D. 70. — Herod, having been for two 
years preparing materials for building a new temple, pulled down the 






b. c. 1005. 1 KINGS X. 197 

361. Glory of Solomon. — The other works of Solo- 
mon display the same munificent splendor as his temple. 
The three hundred targets and three hundred shields of 
beaten gold ; an ivory throne overlaid with gold, with a 
golden footstool and twelve golden lions ; the golden ves- 
sels of his household; 12,000 cavalry and 40,000 stalls 
for chariot-horses ; the administration of the government 
and the service of the court, — all excited as much wonder 
and applause as his own 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs, 
his knowledge of trees from the cedar to the hyssop, of 
beasts, birds, fishes, and creeping things. Many royal 
strangers weie attracted to Jerusalem by the fame of 
Solomon ; and the queen of Sheba is particularly men- 
tioned as having been struck alike with astonishment and 
admiration at the grandeur of his works and the wisdom 
of his words. 1 Kings x. ; 2 Chron. ix. 

362. Kingdom disturbed by Idolatry and Faction. 
— The latter part of Solomon's reign was disgraced by 
voluptuousness and stained by idolatry. The royal harem 
of seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines in- 
cluded many women from the surrounding countries, who 
tempted the king to worship their national deities ; and 
the monarch who had built so glorious a temple to Je- 
hovah on Mount Moriah now erected high places for 
Chemosh, Molech, and Ashtoreth on the Mount of Olives. 
Then the Lord threatened to rend away the kingdom of 
Israel from the son of Solomon, leaving, however, one 
tribe for the sake of David and Jerusalem. The remain- 

old one in b. c. 17, and began erecting a new one about forty-six years 
before the first passover of Christ's personal ministry. John ii. 20. 
Upon this work 1000 wagons and 10,000 artificers were engaged under 
the superintendence of 1000 priests. In nine and a half years the 
temple was fit for divine service, but additions continued to be made 
until A. D. 64. It was larger than the others, and the sanctuary, or 
temple strictly so called, was constructed of white marble, and, with the 
altar, was placed in a quadrangular area, called " The Court of the 
Priests," which was surrounded by three courts, each one of which was 
situated above the other. The inner court was called " The Court of the 
Israelites," the middle one, " The Court of the Israelite Women," and the 
outer one, " The Court of the Gentiles." This temple was at length 
completely demolished by Titus, A. D. 70, on the same day of the same 
month on which Solomon's temple had been destroyed. It was the 

Iiresence of Christ in the second temple that fulfilled the prophecy of 
Iaggai : " The glory of this latter house shall bo greater than of the 
former." Hag. ii. 9. 

17* 



198 1 KINGS XL b. c. 975. 

der of the reign was darkened by intestine war. Hadad, 
a prince of Edom, who had fled to Egypt on the conquest 
of his country by David, and married the sister of Pha- 
raoh's queen, now returned to Idumsea. Rezon, son of 
Eliadah, a servant of Hadadezer, king of Zobah (sect. 
329), collected a band of men, seized Damascus, and 
founded a kingdom which soon became formidable (sect. 
493, note) ; whilst Jeroboam, son of Nebat, an Ephrath- 
ite, who for his bold and enterprising conduct had been 
commissioned by Solomon to levy the taxes of Ephraim 
and Manasseh, was promised by Ahijah, the Shilonite 
prophet, the government of ten tribes, together with the 
further encouragement that if he kept the commandments 
and statutes as David had done, the Lord would be with 
him and build him a house equally sure. Solomon then 
sought to slay Jeroboam, who, however, escaped to Egypt, 
where he was protected by Shishak, until the death of Sol- 
omon released him from exile. 1 Kings xi. ; 2 Chron. ix. 31. 

363. Death and Character of Solomon, 975. — 
Solomon died b. c. 975. His character, unlike that of his 
father David, was peaceful, learned, and luxurious. 
Called to the throne while yet a youth, he became deeply 
sensible of his great responsibilities, and sought for wis- 
dom under divine encouragement. He was early cele- 
brated for decision and righteous judgment, and his ex- 
tensive acquaintance with natural history and physical 
science was the wonder of his age. He next prepared 
himself to fulfil the pious designs of his father in erecting 
a temple to Jehovah ; and whatever subsequent ages may 
boast of the sublime and magnificent, this monument of 
art and piety remains unrivalled, and still flourishes in 
the pages of Holy Writ. His luxuries and sinful com- 
pliance in countenancing idolatrous practices will ever 
remain a stain on his memory ; but his wisdom, learning, 
and taste were of the highest order, while his mainte- 
nance of the laws and patronage of useful arts secured the 
prosperity of his reign and formed the golden period of 
Jewish history. 

REHOBOAM. 

364. Revolt of the Ten Tribes, 975. — Eehoboam, 
son of Solomon by Naamah an Ammonitess, succeeded 






b. c. 975. 1 KINGS XII. 199 

his father at the age of forty-one. He convened a general 
meeting of all the elders of Israel (sect. 133, 134) at 
Shechem, that he might be formally invested with the 
royal dignity. But Jeroboam had now returned from 
Egypt, and through him the assembly stipulated that the 
new king should remit the excessive taxation which had 
been exacted by Solomon. Rehoboam took three days to 
consider, and then, forsaking the old counsellors of his 
father and following young men's advice, he said to his 
subjects, " My father made your yoke heavy, and I will 
add to your yoke; my father also chastised you with 
whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." The ten 
tribes of Israel then revolted from Judah, as God had 
predicted, stoned Adoram, who was over the tribute, 
forced Rehoboam to fly to Jerusalem, and made Jeroboam 
king. 1 Kings xii. 1-20 ; 2 Chron. x. 



§ Prefatory Review of the History of the Divided 
Monarchies. 

365. Contracted Frontiers. — The kingdom estab- 
lished by David was now contracted as well as divided, 
and the Euphrates and desert ceased to be its frontiers. 
Israel lost her Syrian possessions by the rise of Rezon in 
Damascus ; the Ammonites threw off her yoke, and the 
Moabites alone continued tributary. Judah still retained 
a supremacy over the Philistines, and received a homage, 
which was, however, merely nominal, from the Edomites ; 
but being cut off from the Tyrians and maritime Israel- 
ites, and having lost the superfluous produce arising from 
the Israelite territory, her kings must have found the 
ports of Solomon on the Red Sea a barren possession. 

366. Reciprocal Relations of the Two Monarchies. 
— Judah was the richest of the two kingdoms, from the 
possession of Jerusalem and the treasures of Solomon. 
She also enjoyed a compact dominion and a completeness 
of organization as the old centre of government ; and 
Rehoboam, as the grandson of David, must have been 
more secure of the loyalty of the tribes which remained 
faithful to his rule. But, on the other hand, Israel pos- 
sessed four times the territory of Judah and a much 
larger population. Thus the power of the two states was 



200 l KINGS. 



b. c. 975. 



nearly balanced, and consequently the struggle between 
them was the more obstinate ; and this continued rivalry 
led to alliances with Syria, Egypt, and Assyria which 
ultimately conduced to the downfall of the two nations. 

367. Causes which led to their Destruction, — From 
the time of Moses, Jehovah had always governed his peo- 
ple according to the promises and threatenings which he 
delivered from Mount Horeb. If they deviated from 
their allegiance, he brought them back by suitable chas- 
tisements ; and the same course was pursued in the govern- 
ment of the two kingdoms. If the monarchs of both had 
viewed the sundering of the empire as a consequence of 
Solomon's idolatry, and as a warning to them to govern 
their subjects according to the book of the Law, their 
kingdoms might have enjoyed uninterrupted prosperity. 
Even Jeroboam had been assured that if he kept the 
Law as David had done his house should be equally sure. 
But the kings of both states rebelled against Jehovah and 
worshipped other gods, and allied with their idolatrous 
neighbors; and after a succession of prophets had re- 
minded both rulers and subjects of their duties to Jeho- 
vah, and threatened them with punishment in case of dis- 
obedience, there followed calamity after calamity to bring 
the nation to reflection. 

368. Idolatry of Israel. — In spite of the promise of 
Jehovah through Ahijah (sect. 362), Jeroboam pursued 
a mere human policy, and in order to restrain his subjects 
from worshipping at Jerusalem he set up two golden calves 
in his own dominions. His example was but too well 
followed by his successors, and at length Ahab, after his 
Phoenician marriage, introduced a still viler idolatry, with 
all its concomitant vices. One after another the reigning 
families were removed, after their extermination had been 
announced by a prophet, and a successor appointed. At 
last, after all milder punishments had proved fruitless, 
the kingdom was destroyed and the people carried into 
the threatened captivity. 

369. Idolatry of Judali. — In Judah the same Provi- 
dence was favorable or adverse to the kingdom according 
as the people obeyed or transgressed the law, only the 
royal family remained unchanged, in accordance with the 
promise given to David. Though many of her kings were 



b. o. 975-884. 



1 KINGS. 



201 



rebellious and idolatrous, yet they were always succeeded 
by those of purer mind, who put a stop to idolatry, re- 
established theocracy in the hearts of their subjects, and 
by the aid of prophets, priests, and Levites and the ser- 
vices of the temple restored the knowledge and worship 
of God. Judah, therefore, though much smaller than 
Israel, continued her national existence one hundred and 
thirty-four years longer ; but at last, as no durable refor- 
mation was produced, she experienced the same fate as 
her sister kingdom. 



II. History of the Divided Monarchies of Judah and 
Israel* 



JUDAH. 

Tribes — Judah and 



Benja- 



illed 



Capital — Jerusalem ; 

Salem in the time of Abraham, 
Jebus in the time of Joshua, and 
afterward Jebusalem or Jerusa- 
lem. 



ISRAEL. 

Tribes — Asher, Naphtali, Ma- 
nasseh, Zebulun, Issachar, Gad, 
Reuben, Ephraim, Dan, and 
Simeon. 

Capital — Shechem during the 
reigns of Jeroboam and Nadab. 
Baasha removed it to Tirzah; 
and Omri, in b. c. 925, to Sa- 
maria. 



First Period— /row the Revolt of the Ten Tribes until Jehu destroyed 
the dynasty of Ahab in Israel and slew Ahaziah in Judah, B. C. 
975-884 = 92 years. 



Jud ah — Rehoboam. 

370. 1. Rehoboam; 975-958. 

— Son of Solomon. Keigned 
seventeen years. Prophet — She- 
maiah. 

372. Not to war against Is- 
rael; Fenced Cities. — Reho- 
boam now assembled an army 
of 180,000 to recover Israel, but 
was forbidden the war bv the 



Is r ael — Jeroboam. 

371. 1. Jeroboam, 975-954. 

— Son of Nebat. Reigned twenty- 
two years. "Who made Israel 
to sin." Prophets — Ahijah the 
Shilonite and a man of God sent 
to Bethel. 

373. Fortified Shechem.— 
Jeroboam built and fortified She- 
chem in the tribe of Ephraim, 



* For analytical tabic of the history of the two kingdoms see pp. 
1 00-109. 



202 



1 KINGS. 



b. c. 975-884. 



Judah — Abijah. 

prophet Shemaiah. He then 
built fenced cities, and his king- 
dom was strengthened by the 
priests, Levites, and pious men 
who fled from the idolatry of 
Jeroboam. 1 Kings xii. 21-24; 
2 Chron. xi. 1-17. 

375. Shishak's Invasion, 
972. — Three years after his ac- 
cession both the king and the 
people fell into idolatry, and 
Shishak, king of Egypt, ravaged 
Judah and plundered the tem- 
ple. Rehoboam and the princes 
of Judah were now rebuked by 
the prophet Shemaiah, and hum- 
bled themselves before the Lord. 
1 Kings xiv. 25-28; 2 Chron. 
xii. 1-12. 

376. All the subsequent kings of 
Judah were descendants of David 
through Rehoboam, as God had 
promised. 

378. 2. Abijah, or Abijam, 
958-955. — Son of Rehoboam. 
Committed evil like his father, 
and had fourteen wives, by whom 
he had twenty-two sons and six- 
teen daughters. Reigned three 
vears. 1 Kings xv. 1-5 ; 2 Chron. 
xiii. 1, 2, 21. 

379. Defeats Jeroboam, 957. 
— Abijah with 400,000 men op- 
posed Jeroboam with 800,000 * 
on Mount Zemaraim, on the bor- 
ders of Ephraim, and whilst the 
latter was plotting to hem him 
in, Abijah's people shouted and 
the priests blew their trumpets, 
which so terrified Jeroboam's 
army that they fled, and 500,000 
of them were killed. 2 Chron. 
xiii. 3, 13-20. 



Israel — Jeroboam. 

which city Abimelech had de- 
stroyed two hundred and fifty- 
eight years previously (see sect. 
385), and dwelt there. 1 Kings 
xii. 20, 25. 

374. Establishes Calf-wor- 
ship and Profane Priesthood. 
— Being afraid that Israel would 
return to the house of David if 
suffered to sacrifice at Jerusalem, 
he set up two golden calves — one 
in Bethel, the other in Dan, be- 
ing the extremities of his king- 
dom. He then made priests of 
the lowest of the people, and or- 
dained an idolatrous feast corre- 
sponding to the "Tabernacles," 
and sacrificed in person at Beth- 
el. 1 Kings xii. 26-33. 

377. Man of God comes to 
Bethel. — The Lord now sent a 
man to Jeroboam at Bethel, who, 
seeing him at the altar, cried, 
"O altar, altar! thus saith the 
Lord, A child shall be born to 
the house of David, Josiah by 
name, and upon thee shall he 
offer the priests of the high places 
that burn incense upon thee, and 
men's bones shall be burnt upon 
thee." Jeroboam stretched out 
his hand to seize the man, when 
the hand dried up, but was re- 
stored by the messenger's prayers. 
The prophecy was fulfilled three 
hundred and fifty years after- 
ward, in Josiah's reign (sect. 525). 
Jeroboam invited the man of 
God to his house, but the latter 
declined, as God had commanded 
him neither to eat nor drink, nor 
return the same way he came. 
An old prophet of Bethel then 
followed the man of God, and 
said he had been ordered by an 



* Owing to the mistakes of transcribers in copying numerals, we 
cannot answer for the correctness of the great numbers of men which 
are mentioned here and in the sequel. 



j. c. 975-884. 



1 KINGS. 



203 



J ud ah— Asa. 



382. 3. Asa, 955-914.— Son 

of Abijah. Reigned forty-one 
years. Prophets — Azariahand 
Hunani. 

384. Suppresses Idolatry.— 
Asa destroyed the idols, groves, 
and high places, and deposed his 
mother [i. e. grandmother] Ma- 
achah from being queen for prac- 
tising idolatry. He also restored 
the national worship, built fenced 
cities, and levied a large army. 
1 Kings xv. 9-13 ; 2 Chron. xiv. 
1-8. 

387. Defeats Zerali the Ethi- 
opian. — Asa defeated Zerah the 
Ethiopian, who invaded Judah 
with 1,000,000 men and three 
hundred chariots. Encouraged 
by the prophet Azariah, he then 
made fresh efforts to eradicate 



Israel — Nadab, Baasha. 

angel to bring him to his house. 
This was false, but the man 
turned back, and whilst sitting 
at table the Lord told him, 
through the mouth of the old 
prophet, that for his disobedience 
his corpse should not come into 
the sepulchre of his fathers. The 
man then returned home and 
was killed by a lion, but not de- 
voured; and the old prophet 
found his body and buried it in his 
own tomb. 1 Kings xiii. 1-32. 

380. His son Abijah sick; 
Ahijah's Propheey.— Abijah, 
son of Jeroboam, now fell sick, 
and the king sent his wife in 
disguise to consult Ahijah the 
prophet at Shiloh. Ahijah was 
blind, but discovered the queen, 
and denounced God's judgment 
against Jeroboam's whole family, 
and foretold the immediate death 
of his son ; and added that the 
latter should be the only one of 
the family that should be buried. 
(See also sect. 362.) 

381. 2. Nadab, 954, 953.— 
Son of Jeroboam. Reigned two 
years. 

383. Worships the Calves. 
— Nadab followed in the sins of 
his father, and was at length 
slain at the siege of Gibbethon 
by his general, Baasha, who then 
slew all the house of Jeroboam. 
1 Kings xv. 25-30. 

385. 3. Baasha, 953-930.— 
Reigned twenty-four years. 
Pjroph et — Jehu. 

386. Worships the Calves.— 
Baasha now usurped the throne, 
but walked in the ways of Jero- 
boam. He removed his capital 
from Shechem to Tirzah. 1 Kings 
xv. 33, 34. 

388. Allies with Benhadad 
I. — The kingdom of Damascus, 
founded by Re/.on (sect. 302), 



204 



1 KINGS. 



b. c. 975-884. 



Judali — Asa. 

idolatry, and celebrated a solemn 
festival in which he and his peo- 
ple engaged to serve the Lord. 
2 Chron. xiv. 9-15; xv. 

390. Bribes Benhadad I. to 
attack Baasha.— In this reign 
Baasha king of Israel occupied 
and began to fortify Bamah, to 
prevent his people entering Ju- 
dah, when Asa bribed Baasha's 
ally, Benhadad I., king of Da- 
mascus, to attack him. Benha- 
dad did so, and took several cit- 
ies of Naphtali, which obliged 
Baasha to give up the fortifica- 
tion. Hanani the prophet rem- 
onstrated with Asa for his Syrian 
alliance, but was imprisoned by 
the king. 1 Kings xv. 16-22; 
2 Chron. xvi. 1-10. 

391. Dies of Diseased Feet. 
— Asa was attacked with diseased 
feet, but sought the physicians 
[*. e. foreign magicians who prac- 
tised sorcery and incantations] 
more than God, and died in b. c. 
914. 1 Kings xv. 23, 24 ; 2 Chron. 
xvi. 11-14. 



Israel— Elah, Zimri, Omri. 

had now increased in power, and 
Baasha formed an alliance with 
the reigning monarch, Benha- 
dad. 1 Kings xv. 19; 2 Chron. 
xvi. 3. 

389. Fortifies Ram ah.— The 
next act of Baasha was to fortify 
Bamah, a town about six miles 
to the north of Jerusalem and 
in the heart of the tribe of Benja- 
min, in order to prevent his sub- 
jects from entering Judah * But 
Asa, kinff of Judah, bribed Ben- 
hadad, king of Syria, to invade 
Israel, and Baasha was then 
obliged to give up the fortifi- 
cation. 

Jehu, son of Hanani, prophe- 
sied to Baasha the extinction 
of his family on account of his 
wickedness. 1 Kings xv. 16-21; 
xvi. 1-7; 2 Chron. xvi. 1-5. 

392. 4. Elah, 930, 929.— 
Son of Baasha. Beigned two 
years. 

393. Assassinated by Zimri. 
— Baasha was assassinated at Tir- 
zah by Zimri, captain of half 
his chariots, whilst drinking in 
the house of Arza his steward. 
1 Kings xvi. 8-10. 

394. 5. Zimri, 929.— Beign- 
ed only seven days, during which 
he destroyed all the house of 
Baasha. 1 Kings xvi. 10-15. 

395. Burnt himself at Tir- 
zall. — Being closely besieged by 
Omri, captain of the host, he 
burnt the royal palace at Tirzah, 
and expired in the flames. 1 
Kings xvi. 15-20. 

396. 6. Omri, 929-918; 
Factions of Omri and Tibni.— 
For six years after the death of 



* Ramah was also probably intended for an offensive fortress from 
whence to make incursions into the enemy's country, and not unlike 
the forts of Decelea in Attica and of Pylus in Messenia, occupied during 
the Peloponnesian war. — I'hucydidee, iv. 3; vii. 19, 27, 28. 



B. c. 975-884. 



1 KINGS. 



205 



Judall — Jehoshaphat. 



398. 4. Jehoshaphat, 914- 

889.— Son of Asa. Keigned 
twenty-five years. Prophets — 
Jehu, Eliezer, and Jahaziel. 

400. Upholds the Worship 
of Jehovah. — Jehoshaphat fear- 
ed God like his father Asa, and 
cleansed the land of groves and 
other traces of idolatry, though 
the people still burnt incense in 
high places, though probably 
only to Jehovah. 1 Kings xxii. 
4-43; 2 Chron. xvii. 3-6. 

402. Organizes the National 
Education. — Jehoshaphat also 
organized a system for the re- 
ligious education of the whole 
nation. He appointed priests 



Israel — Omri, Ahab. 

Zimri, Israel was divided, half 
for Omri and half for Tibni. 
The Omri party at last prevailed, 
Tibni died, and Omri reigned. 
1 Kings xvi. 21, 22. 

397. Omri reigns wickedly. 
— Omri built Samaria and made 
it his capital, and died after a 
wicked reign of twelve years, 
six only of which he reigned 
alone. 1 Kings xvi. 23-28. 

399. 7. Ahah, 918-897.— 
Son of Omri, and the most wick- 
ed king that ever ruled Israel. 
— Reigned twenty-two years. 
Prophets — Elijah, Micaiah, and 
three anonymous. 

401. Marries Jezebel ; wor- 
ships Baal and Astarte, Phoe- 
nician Gods. — Ahab married 
Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal,* 
king of the Zidonians, and in- 
troduced the worship of Baalf 
and Astarte,;}; or Ashtaroth ; for 
which, about b. c. 910, God sent 
Elijah the prophet to reprove 
him, and punished him with a 
three years' famine. 1 Kings 
xvi. 29-33; xvii. 1. 



* Ethbaal was apparently king of the Sidonians and Tyrians, or per- 
haps of the Phoenicians generally. The Tyrian line in which he, as 
well as Hiram, the ally of David and Solomon, were included, reigned 
about B. c. 1050-586. The names of the various monarchs are given by 
Josephus as an extract from Manetho. Besides Jezebel, who paganized 
Israel, two other remarkable females were related to this dynasty — viz. 
Athaliah, daughter of Jezebel and Ahab, who usurped Judah (sect. 443), 
and Dido, sister of Pygmalion, who founded Carthage. 

+ Baal, or Belus, was the supreme deity amongst all the Semitic races, 
and thus came to be identified with the Sun, the greatest divine mani- 
festation in the Sabaean system. Hence there is much mythological 
confusion between Belus and Apollo. According to Sanchoniathon, as 
quoted in Cory's Fragments, the Phoenicians stretched their hand 
toward the Sun, the only Lord of heaven, calling him Beelsamin, which 
in Phoenician is " Lord of heaven," but in the Greek Zeus. Compare 
Layard's Nineveh. 

| Astarte, or Ashtaroth, or Queen of Heaven, was the female form of 
Baal, and was identified with the moon, and corresponded to the Venus 
of the Greeks. She is said to have consecrated a star in the holy island, 
Tyre. Her worship was accompanied by the most infamous and de- 
grading rites. — Ibid, and Herod., i. 196. 

18 



206 



1 KINGS. 



b. c. 975-884. 



Jlldall — Jehoshaphat. 

and Levites to make circuits 
throughout the land, attended 
by the princes, in order to teach 
the book of the Law to the sev- 
eral cities of Judah. 2 Chron. 
xvii. 7-9. 

404. Fortifies Judah, and 
Levies an Army.— Jehosha- 
phat built numerous fenced cities 
throughout Judah, with strong 
fortifications, ammunition, and 
garrisons. Besides these garri- 
son troops he had an immense 
army under five great generals 
stationed at Jerusalem, and also 
concentrated a large force on his 
northern frontier, especially in 
the cities of Ephraim which Asa 
had taken from Baasha. 2 Chron. 
xvii. 1, 2, 12-19. 

407. Appoints Judges.— Je- 
hoshaphat also appointed judges 
in all the fenced cities, probably 
re-establishing the system of ju- 
dicial administration which had 
been organized by Moses (sect. 
133). 2 Chron. xix. 5-11. 

408. Flourishing- State of 
his Kingdom. — The govern- 
ment of Jehoshaphat seems to 
have inspired his subjects with 
confidence and their enemies 
with fear. The Edomites con- 
tinued firm in their allegiance ; 
the Philistines regularly remitted 
their presents and tribute-sil- 
ver; and several Arabian tribes 
brought him large tributes or 
gifts of sheep and goats from 
their flocks. 2 Chron. xvii. 10, 
11. 

409. His Affinity with Ahab, 
897. — The capital error of Je- 
hoshaphat was in contracting an 
alliance with Ahab and marry- 
ing his eldest son, Jehoram, to 
Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and 
Jezebel. This took place in the 
thirteenth year of Jehoshaphat's 



Israel— A hob. 

403. Three years' Famine, 

Cir. 910-906. — During the 
three years' famine Elijah was 
miraculously fed by ravens at 
Cherith, and by an exhaustless 
vessel of meal and cruse of oil 
belonging to a widow at Zare- 
phath (a Phoenician city between 
Tyre and Sidon), whose dead 
son he restored to life. 1 Kings 
xvii. 2-24. 

405. Jezebel persecutes the 
Prophets. — About this time Jez- 
ebel killed all the prophets of 
Jehovah whom she could find, 
but Obadiah, the governor of 
Ahab's house, hid one hundred 
by fifty in a cave, and fed them 
with bread and water. 

406. Grand Trial on Car- 
mel between Elijah and the 
Priests of Baal.— After the 
three years, Elijah, with Oba- 
diah's assistance, met Ahab by 
God's direction. Ahab accused 
him of troubling Israel, but he 
retorted the charge, and chal- 
lenged the four hundred and 
fifty priests of Baal to appear at 
Mount Carmel before Israel, for 
Israel to decide between Baal 
and Jehovah, the test being the 
kindling by fire from heaven of 
the sacrifices laid on their re- 
spective altars. Baal's priests 
then prepared their altar and 
victim, but implored their god 
in vain. Elijah then ordered an 
old altar on the spot to be repair- 
ed with twelve stones, placed the 
victim upon it, and after causing 
the whole to be drenched three 
times with water, he prayed to 
Jehovah, and fire immediately 
descended and consumed the vic- 
tim. The surrounding multitude 
were now convinced, and slaugh- 
tered Baal's prophets at the brook 
Kishon, and soon after rain de- 



c. 975-884. 



1 KINGS. 



207 



Judah — Jehoshaphat. 



reign. 2 Kings viii. 18 
xviii. 1 ; xxii. 2. 



2 Chron. 



Israel— Ahab. 

scended and the famine ceased. 
1 Kings xviii. 

410. Elijah ordered to An- 
oint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha. 

■ — Elijah was now threatened by 
Jezebel, and fled to Beer-sheba, 
where an angel gave him a cake 
which nourished him for forty- 
days. He then went to Mount 
Horeb, where, after a wind, an 
earthquake, and a fire, the Lord 
appeared to him in a still small 
voice, and ordered him to anoint 
Hazael to be king of Syria, Jehu 
to be king of Israel, and Elisha 
to be prophet. 1 Kings xix. 

411. Campaign of Benha- 
dad II.; Siege of Samaria, 
cir. 901. — Benhadad II. — prob- 
ably the son of Benhadad I. 
(sect. 389) — now entered Israel 
with three vassal kings, and laid 
siege to Samaria. Ahab at first 
was terrified into an offer of un- 
conditional surrender and vassal- 
age, but Benhadnd threatened to 
send his servants to search the 
houses of Ahab and his court, 
and this insult roused the king 
of Israel to opposition. The na- 
tional assembly of elders exhort- 
ed him to firmness and vigor, 
and a prophet of the Lord prom- 
ised that the host of Syria should 
be delivered into his hand. Ahab 
sent out two hundred and thirty- 
two princes, followed by an army 
of 7000 men, who fell upon the 
enemy at noon, whilst Benhadnd 
and his kings were carousing in 
the pavilions. The Syrian army 
with its host of cavalry and char- 
iots was taken by surprise and 
quickly routed ; Benhadad es- 
caped with the horsemen, and 
Ahab himself issued from Sama- 
ria and assisted in the slaughter; 
but the prophet who promised 
the victory foretold that the next 



208 1 KINGS. b. c. 975-884. 

Judali — Jehoshaphat. Israel — Ahab. 

vear the Syrians would return. 
1 Kings xx. 1-22. 

412. Second Campaign of 
Benhadad II. ; defeated at 
Aphek. — The next year the Syr- 
ian captains said to Benhadad, 
" The gods of Israel are only 
gods of the hills : if therefore 
we fight them in the plain, we 
shall be the stronger." Benha- 
dad accordingly raised another 
army, and invaded Israel on 
the side of Phoenicia, as far as 
Aphek, which was included in 
the broad plain of Esdraelon, or 
Jezreel. A prophet again prom- 
ised victory to Ahab, because of 
the blasphemous expression of 
the enemy concerning the God of 
Israel. A battle ensued, 10,000 
of the Syrians were slain, and 
Benhadad fled with the remain- 
der into the city of Aphek, and 
then surrendered to Ahab. 1 
Kings xx. 23-33. 

413. Alliance with Syria.— 
Benhadad now agreed that the 
king of Israel should build 
streets in Damascus, as his fa- 
ther Benhadad I. had done in 
Samaria ; and Ahab then cove- 
nanted with him, contrary to 
God's command, for which he 
was rebuked and threatened by 
a son of the prophets. 1 Kings 
xx. 34-43. 

414. Ahab seizes Naboth's 
Yineyard ; Elijah's fearful 
Prophecy, 899.— Ahab cov- 
eted the vineyard of Naboth of 
Jezreel, and, acting by the ad- 
vice of his wife Jezebel, he got 
false witnesses to procure Na- 
both's death as a traitor, and 
seized his confiscated posses- 
sions. Elijah then assured 
Ahab, " Where dogs licked the 
blood of Naboth shall dogs lick 
thy blood, and thine house shall 



B.C. 975-884. 3 KINGS. 209 

Jndali — Jehoshaphat. Israel — Ahab. 

be like the houses of Jeroboam 
and Baasha ; the dogs shall eat 
Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel ; 
and him that dieth of Ahab in 
the city the dogs shall eat, and 
him that dieth in the field shall 
the fowls of the air eat." Ahab 
now humbled himself in sack- 
cloth, and the evil was postponed 
until his son's days. 1 Kings 



415. Jehosliapliat and Ahab unite in an Expedition against 
the Syrians at Ramoth-gilead, 807. — Israel was now at peace 
with Syria, but Benhadad still held Kamoth in Gilead beyond Jor- 
dan, which Ahab was anxious to regain, and accordingly invited 
the assistance of Jehoshaphat to expel the Syrian garrison. Je- 
hoshaphat hesitated to go before the Lord had been consulted, 
when Ahab assembled his false prophets to the number of four 
hundred, including Zedekiah. These all predicted success, bat 
Jehoshaphat doubted their truth, and Micaiah, the prophet of the 
Lord, was sent for, who prophesied the contrary, and was thrown 
into prison by Ahab. The two kings, however, marched against 
Ramoth — Jehoshaphat in his royal robes, but Ahab in disguise. 
Benhadad had commanded his captains, " Fight not with small or 
great, save only with the king of Israel." Jehoshaphat nearly lost 
his life from being mistaken for Ahab, but the latter was mortally 
wounded by a random arrow, and carried back in his chariot to 
Samaria. 1 Kings xxii. 1-37 ; 2 Chron. xviii. 

416. Jehoshaphat rebuked 417. Death of Ahab, 897.— 
by Jehu. — On returning to Je- At evening Ahab died, and his 
rusalem, Jehoshaphat was re- chariot and harness were washed 
proved by Jehu, son of Hanani, in the pool of Samaria, and the 
for joining an idolatrous king, dogs licked his blood, as Elijah 
He still continued in his Avork had prophesied. " There was 
of reformation, and made a tour none like unto Ahab for wick- 
through his dominions from edness." He introduced the wor- 
Beer-sheba on the south to ship of Baal and slew the proph- 
Mount Ephraim on the north, ets of the Lord. 1 Kings xxi. 37- 
seeking to bring back the peo- 39 ; 2 Chron. xviii. 34. 

pie more entirely to the God of 418. Jericho Rebuilt. — Tn 

their fathers. 2 Chron. xix. 1-4. Ahab's reign Jericho was re- 

419. Tries to revive the built by Iliel the Bethelite; "he 

Commerce of Solomon, etc.— laid the foundation thereof in 

Jehoshaphat attempted to revive Abiram his first-born, and set 

the ancient traffic of Solomon by up the gates thereof in his 

the Red Sea to the region of youngest son Segub." (See sect, 

gold. Accordingly, he built a 256.) 1 Kings xvi. 34. 
18* 



210 



2 KINGS. 



b. c. 975-884. 



Jildall — Jehoshaphal. 

navy at his port of Eziongeber 
on the Red Sea to go to Ophir 
and Tarshish ; but in an evil 
day he consented to allow Aha- 
ziah,. the new monarch of Israel, 
to take a part in the expedition ; 
and Eliezer prophesied against 
the enterprise, and the ships 
were wrecked and broken up. 
1 Kings xxii. 48 ; 2 Chron. xx. 
35-37. 

422. Defeats Confederacy 
of Moabites and Ammonites, 
896. — Jehoshaphat's unfortu- 
nate expedition with Ahab 
against Ramoth-gilead, seems to 
have lowered him in the estima- 
tion of his neighbors, and tbus 
his alliance with the idolatrous 
king brought its own punishment. 
The Moabites, who had rebelled 
against Israel, were joined by 
the Ammonites and, some Ara- 
bian tribes, and invaded Judah. 
Jehosliaphat then proclaimed a 
solemn fast, and, being encour- 
aged by the prophet Jahaziel, 
he proceeded with his forces to 
Tekoah to meet the enemy. Here 
the army of Jehosliaphat re- 
mained stationary, singing the 
praises of God ; and whilst they 
were thus employed the enemy 
madly destroyed each other and 
left a rich spoil. Three days were 
employed by Jehosliaphat in 
collecting the riches and jewels, 
and then, after praising God in 
the valley of Berachah, which is 
supposed to be the same as the 
valley of Jehosliaphat on the 
north and east of Jerusalem 
(sect. 326, note), the whole army 
returned to Jerusalem. 2 Chron. 
xx. 1-30. 



Israel — Ahaziah, Jehoram. 

420. 8. Ahaziah, 897, 896. 
— Son of Ahab. Reigned two 
years. Prophet — Elijah. 

421. Worships both Baal 
and the Calves. — Ahaziah 
united the sins of his father to 
those of Jeroboam, for he adopt- 
ed the policy of the latter in 
worshipping the golden calves, 
whilst he followed in the idol- 
atry of Baal and the other Phoe- 
nician gods which had been in- 
troduced by Jezebel. 1 Kings 
xxii. 51-53; 2 Chron. xxii. 
1-4. 

423. Revolt of the Moab- 
ites. — Moab, which had hither- 
to been tributary to Israel, and 
paid a yearly revenue of 100,000 
rams and 100,000 lambs, was en- 
couraged by the victory of Ben- 
hadad over Ahab to rebel against 
Israel. 2 Kings i. 1. 

424. Ahaziah sick ; sends 
to Baal-zebllb.— Shortly after- 
ward Ahaziah fell through a lat- 
tice, and sent for help to Baal- 
zebub("lord of flies"), who was 
the god at the Philistine town 
of Ekron. Elijah met the mes- 
sengers, and sent them back with 
a prediction of Ahaziah's death. 
2 Kings i. 2-4. 

425. Elijah brings Fire 
from Heaven. — When Aha- 
ziah heard of Elijah's prophecy 
he sent three successive com- 
panies of fifty each to arrest 
him : the first two were destroy- 
ed by fire, but Elijah returned 
with the third and repeated his 
previous prediction. So Aha- 
ziah died, after reigning two 
years. 2 Kings i. 5-18. 

426. 9. Jehoram, or Joram, 
896-884.— Son of Ahab and 
brother of Ahaziah. Reigned 
twelve years. Prophets — Eli- 
jah and Eli&ha. 



B. c. 975-884. 2 KINGS. 211 

Jlidall — Jehoshaphat. Israel — Jehoram. 

427. Worships the Calves. 

— Jehoram followed the idola- 
trous policy of Jeroboam, though 
not the sins of his father Ahab, 
for he put away Baal, though he 
worshipped the golden calves. 
2 Kings iii. 1-3. 

428. Elijah translated, 896. 
— Elijah,* whilst in company 
with Elisha, divided the Jordan 
with his mantle, and was carried 
to heaven in a whirlwind, and 
Elisha was appointed his suc- 
cessor. Elisha now repeated 
Elijah's miracle of dividing the 
Jordan, and sent fifty of the sons 
of the prophets to seek Elijah, 
but they returned unsuccessful 
after three days' search. Elisha 
then healed the waters at Jeri- 
cho, and cursed the children at 
Bethel who mocked him, after 

* Life of Elijah (prophesied, 910-896). — Elijah was a native of Tisbe 
in Gilead beyond Jordan, and flourished in the reigns of Ahab and 
Ahnziah. In b. c. 910 he predicted the three years' drought to Ahab, 
during which he was fed by ravens by the brook Cherith, and afterward 
by the meal which did not waste and the oil which did not fail of the 
widow at Zarephath, and raised the widow's son to life. In B. c. 906 
he proved the superiority of Jehovah to Baal at Mount Carmel, and 
ordered the slaying of the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal; 
he then promised abundance of rain, which fell and ended the famine. 
Jezebel now threatened Elijah's life, and the prophet fled to Mount 
Horeb, or Sinai, in Arabia Petrsea, and was miraculously supported for 
forty days on his journey. Here, after a tempest, an earthquake, and 
a fire, Jehovah commanded him in a still small voice to return and 
anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, Jehu son of Nimshi to be king 
over Israel, and Elisha to be his successor. About B. c. 899, Elijah 
denounced Ahab and Jezebel for murdering Naboth and seizing his 
vineyard ; and about B. c. 896 he predicted Ahaziah's death for con- 
sulting Baal-zebub, and burnt up two captains of fifties who were sent 
to arrest him. The same year he divided the waters of Jordan in the 
presence of Elisha, and, being carried to heaven in a chariot of fire, he 
left his mantle and a double portion of his spirit to him. Malachi fore- 
told the reappearance of Elijah " before the coining of the great and 
terrible day of the Lord." Mai. iv. 5. Our Saviour informs us that 
Elijah, or Elias, came in spirit in John the Baptist (Matt. xi. 14; xvii. 
10-13); and Elijah and Moses both appeared and conversed with our 
Lord at the Transfiguration. Matt. xvii. 3 ; Mark ix. 4 ; Luke ix. 30. 
Many of the Jews in our Saviour's time believed him to be Elijah risen 
from the dead. 



212 2 KINGS. b. c. 975-884. 

Jlitlall — Jehoshaphat. Israel — Jehoram. 

which forty-two were slain by- 
two she-bears. 2 Kings ii. 



429. Jehoram allies with Jehoshaphat to put down the 
Moabite Revolt, 895. — The first act of Jehoram was to subdue 
the Moabites, who in the previous reign had rebelled against 
Israel. Accordingly, he allied with Jehoshaphat and the king 
of Edom, and the three armies proceeded to Moab through the 
wilderness of Edom. There they suffered from want of water, 
and Jehoram applied to Elisha, who, in consideration for Je- 
hoshaphat, relieved them. Elisha ordered trenches to be dug, 
which the Lord filled with water during the night. Next morn- 
ing the Moabites mistook this water for blood, and thinking that 
the three armies had been fighting each other, they attacked them, 
but were defeated with great loss. The confederate armies now 
ravaged Moab, and so closely besieged the king in Kir-haraseth, 
his capital, that after vainly trying to cut his way with seven hun- 
dred men through the Edomite camp, he sacrificed his eldest son 
as a burnt-offering upon the wall. 2 Kings iii. 4-27. 

430. Elisha heals Naaman's 
Leprosy, 894. — Naaman, a Syr- 
ian general under Benhadad, 
was afflicted with leprosy, when 
an Israelite captive, handmaid 
to his wife, mentioned the 
power of the prophet in Sa- 
maria. Benhadad then sent 
Naaman with a letter and 
presents to the king of Israel, 
but Jehoram received him with 
suspicious dread, and rent his 
clothes, saying, "Am I God, to 
kill and make alive, that this 
man doth send unto me to re- 
cover a man of his leprosy?" 
Elisha heard of Jehoram's dis- 
tress, and, sending for Naaman, 
said to him, "Go and wash in 
Jordan seven times, and thou 
shalt be clean." Naaman at 
first was wroth because the 
rivers of Damascus were not 
preferred, but was at length 
persuaded by his servant to 
follow Elisha's advice, and was 
then healed of his leprosy. 
Naaman offered presents to 



B. c. 975-884. 



2 KINGS. 



213 



Jlldall — Jehoram. 



432. Jehoram associated 
with his Father, 892.— Je- 
horam was made king whilst 
his father Jehoshaphat was yet 
alive. 2 Kings viii. 16. 

434. 5. Jehoram, or Joram, 
889-885.— Son of Jehoshaphat. 
Reigned six years alone, but eight 
years altogether. 

435. Sins like Ahah. — Je- 
horam had married Athaliah, 
daughter of Ahab, murdered all 
his younger brethren, and es- 
tablished idolatry. For these 
offences a prophecy came against 
him from Elijah in writing (sup- 
posed to be Elisha, as Elijah was 
dead). 2 Kings viii. 16-19; 2 
Chron. xxi. 1-4, 12-15. 



Israel — Jehoram. 

Elisha, which were refused, and 
he then begged for two mules' 
burdens of earth out of Canaan, 
as he would thenceforth sacrifice 
only to the Lord. Gehazi, Eli- 
sha's servant, grudged his mas- 
ter's liberality, and, following 
Naaman, he deceitfully obtain- 
ed two changes of raiment and 
a silver talent [1366 oz. = 
£341 10s.] ; but Elisha discov- 
ered his guilt, and transferred 
to Gehazi and his descendants 
the leprosv of Naaman. 2 Kings 
v. 27. 

431. Other Miracles, cir. 
893. — Elisha made an iron 
axe's head, which a son of the 
prophets had dropped in the 
Jordan, to swim. He also dis- 
closed Benhadad's counsel to 
Jehoram, and, being in Dothan, 
the Syrian king tried to take 
him by surrounding the place 
with chariots and cavalry ; but 
Elisha smote the Syrian host 
blind, and then ordered Jeho- 
ram to give them provisions 
and set them at liberty. 2 
Kings vi. 1-23. 

433. Benhadad II. ag-ain 
besieges Samaria, cir. 892. 
— Benhadad besieged Samaria 
so closely that a famine en- 
sued. Women were forced to 
eat their own children, and 
Jehoram, charging the evil on 
Elisha, sought to slay him. 
Elisha predicted an abundance 
of provision on the next day ; 
and the same night four lepers 
discovered that the Syrians, ter- 
rilied by miraculous noises, had 
hurriedly fled and left all their 
effects, which amply supplied 
the wants of the besieged ; and 
a lord who had scoffed at the 
prophecy of Elisha was trodden 
to death by the crowd at the 



214 



2 KINGS. 



b. c. 975-884. 



Judah — A haziah. 

436. Fulfilment of Proph- 
ecy against Jehoram. — This 
was fulfilled ; 1st, In the revolt 
of Edom, which from this time 
chose its own king and ceased 
to pay homage to Judah, and 
of Libnah. 2d, In the invasion 
of the Philistines and Arabian 
Ethiopians, who carried off his 
wives and children. 3d, In be- 
ing attacked with a bowel dis- 
ease, of which he died. 2 Kings 
viii. 20-22; 2 Chron. xxi. 8-11, 
16-19. 

439. 6. Ahaziah, Azariah, 
or Jehoahaz, 885, 884.— Son 
of Jehoram by Athaliah, began 
to reign in b. c. 886, whilst his 
father was alive. 2 Kings ix. 29. 

440. Sins like Ahab ; allies 
with Jehoram. — Ahaziah, like 
his father Jehoram, fell into the 
idolatry of Ahab, and joined 
Jehoram, king of Israel, in at- 
tacking Hazael, king of Syria, 
who had stifled his master, 
Benhadad II., and ascended his 
throne, and was now at Ramoth- 
gilead, east of the Jordan. Here 
Jehoram was wounded, and re- 
turned to Jezreel, where Ahaziah 
visited him, and the two kings 
went to meet Jehu, who slew 
Jehoram. 2 Kings viii. 27-29 ; 
ix. 16-26; 2 Chron. xxii. 2-6. 

442. Slain by Jehu.— Aha- 
ziah was afterward pursued and 
slain at Megiddo, but buried at 
Jerusalem. His forty-two neph- 
ews and kinsmen were also slain. 
2 Kings ix. 27, 28; x. 12-14; 2 
Chron. xxii. 7-9. 



Israel— Jehu. 

gate of Samaria. 2 Kings vi. 
24-33; vii. 

437. Elisha restores the 
Shunamiuite's son, etc., cir. 

891.— Elisha healed the dead- 
ly pottage at Gilgal, and fed 
one hundred men with twenty 
loaves, restored the Shunam- 
mite's dead son, and predicted 
seven years' famine, during 
which the Shunammite retired 
to the land of the Philistines. 
2 Kings iv. 8-41; viii. 1, 2. 

438. Foretells the Acces- 
sion of Hazael, cir. 885.— 
Elisha went to Damascus and 
foretold the death of Benhadad 
and accession of Hazael. This 
year the seven years' famine 
ended, and Elisha obtained for 
the Shunammite woman the 
restoration of her inheritance. 
2 Kings viii. 3-15. 

441. Anoints Jehu; De- 
struction of the Dynasty of 
Ahab, 884.— Elisha sent one 
of the sons of the prophets to 
anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, 
and Jehoram's captain at Ra- 
moth-gilead, to be king of Is- 
rael, according to the command 
given by God to Elijah on 
Mount Horeb (sect. 410). Jehu 
was then acknowledged king by 
the soldiers, and went to Jezreel, 
where Jehoram and Ahaziah 
king of Judah happened to be. 
Jehoram, informed by a watch- 
man of Jehu's approach, sent 
three successive messengers to 
inquire, "Is it peace?" but 
neither of them returned. Je- 
horam and Ahaziah then went 
in person to meet Jehu with 
the same question, but Jehu 
replied, "What peace, so long 
as the whoredoms and witch- 
crafts of thy mother Jezebel 
are so many !" and shot an 



B. c. 884-721. 



2 KINGS. 



215 



Judah — Athaliah, Joash. 



Israel— Jehu. 

arrow through the heart of Je- 
horam, whose body was then 
cast into Naboth's field, as pre- 
dicted by Elijah (sect, 414). 
Ahaziah was also slain. (See! 
also the Life of Elisha, sect. 
436, note.) 2 Kings ix. 1-29; 
2 Chron. xxii. 7-9. 



Second Period— -from the simultaneous accession of Jehu in Israel 
and usurpation of Athaeiah in Judah, until Israel was carried 
away captive by the Assyrian Power. B. c. 884-721 = 163 years. 



443. 7. Athaliah's Usurpa- 
tion, 884-878.— Daughter of 
Ahab, wife of Jehoram, and 
mother of Ahaziah, now destroy- 
ed all the seed royal, and usurp- 
ed the throne for six years. 2 
Kings xi. .1, 3; 2 Chron. xxii. 
10, 12. 

446. Joash saved; educated 
by Jehoiada. — Joash, son of 
Ahaziah, was, however, saved 
by his aunt Jehosheba, who was 
wife of Jehoiada the high priest. 
2 Kings xi. 2 ; 2 Chron. xxii. 
11. 

447. Athaliah slain; Joash 
anointed King. — After six 
years the people grew tired of 
Athaliah's tyranny, and Jehoi- 
ada the high priest anointed 
Joash in the temple and pro- 
claimed him king, and Athaliah, 
rushing there to know the cause 
of the disturbance, was slain at 
the outer gate. 2 Kings xi. 4- 
16; 2 Chron. xxiii. 1—15. 

448. 8. Jehoash, or Joash, 
878-831).— Son of Ahaziah. 
Reigned forty years. Prophet 
— Zechariah, son of Jehoiada. 

449. Jehoiada regent ; Wor- 
ship of Jehovah restored. — 
During the minority of Joash 
the high priest Jehoiada ap- 
pears to have been guardian of 



444. 10. Jehn, 884-856.— 
Son of Nimshi. Reigned twenty- 
eight years. Prophets — Elisha 
and Jonah. 

445. Slays Jezebel and de- 
stroys the House of Ahab. — 
Jehu now proceeded to Jezreel, 
where Jezebel reproached him, 
saying, "Had Zimri peace, who 
slew his master?" alluding to 
Zimri's murder of Elah, by 
which he enjoyed the throne 
only seven days. (See sect. 393.) 
Some eunuchs then, by Jehu's 
order, threw Jezebel from a 
window, and she was trampled 
to death by horses and her car- 
cass eaten by dogs, according to 
Elijah's prophecy (sect. 414). 
Jehu now ordered the people 
of Samaria to send him the 
heads of Ahab's seventy sons, 
and proceeding to Samaria, he 
met Ahaziah's forty-i wo brothers 
and killed them. He next met 
Jehonadab, the son of Rechab 
(founder of the Rechabites; see 
sect. 201, note), and received 
him into favor, and proceeding 
to Samaria he completed the 
destruction of Ahab's family. 
2 Kings ix. 30-37; x. 1-17. 

450. Destroys Baal's Wor- 
shippers. — At Samaria, Jehu 
assumed the character of a de- 



216 



2 KINGS. 



b. c. 884-721. 



Jwlali — Joash. 

the young king and regent of 
the kingdom. He aroused the 
religious zeal of the priests, 
Levites, and people, threw down 
the temple of Baal, and slew 
Mattan the priest ; and having 
then destroyed all the idolatrous 
temples, altars, and monuments 
throughout the land, he restored 
the true worship of Jehovah. 
2 Kings xi. 17-21 ; xii. 1-3; 2 
Chron. xxiii. 16-21 ; xxiv. 1-3. 

452. Joash repairs the 
Temple, cir. 856. — Joash being 
grown up, caused the temple at 
Jerusalem to be repaired by 
collecting money from the peo- 
ple, as Moses had done for the 
building of the tabernacle. He 
reigned well during the whole 
life of Jehoiada, though the high 
places were not removed ; but 
after the high priest's death he 
fell into idolatrv. 2 Kings xii. 
4-16; 2 Chron. xxiv. 4-14. 

454. Death of Jehoiada; 
Re-establishment of Baal, 
cir. 840. — Jehoiada died, aged 
one hundred and thirty years ; 
and Joash, listening to the 
princes of Judah, re-established 
the worship of Baal ; and when 
Zechariah the priest and son of 
Jehoiada remonstrated, Joash 
commanded the people to stone 
him. 2 Chron. xxiv. 15-22. 

456. Syrian Invasion under 
Hazael. — Hazael, king of Syria, 
now marched against Judah, 
but Joash, with the vessels of 
the temple, bribed him to depart. 
At the end of the year, however, 
a small company of Syrians de- 
feated the host of Judah, de- 
stroyed the princes, and sent the 
spoil to Damascus. 2 Kings xii. 
17, 18; 2 Chron. xxiv. 23, 24. 

459. Joash slain hy his 
Servants, 839. — Joash was 



Israel — Jehu, Jehoahaz. 

vout votary of Baal, and by a 
pretended sacrifice collected all 
the idolaters into Baal's temple. 
Jehonadab the Rechabile, with 
eighty men, then entered the 
building by his direction and 
slew all who were within, and 
the images were brought out and 
burnt, and the temple convert- 
ed to the vilest of purposes. 2 
Kings x. 18-28. 

451. Cir. 862. — Jonah 
prophesied. See Prophetical 
Books — Jonah. 

453. Hazael seizes the Ter- 
ritory east of the Jordan, 
860. — Jehu had been conduct- 
ing the war against Hazael, king 
of Syria, at Ramoth - gilead 
when the message of Elisha 
called him to the throne. Ha- 
zael seems to have taken advan- 
tage of his absence to seize all 
the Israelite territory east of 
the Jordan; and Jehu, who still 
practised the idolatry rf Jero- 
boam, was not permitted to 
regain this dominion. 2 Kings 
x. 32-36. 

455. Worships the Golden 
Calves, 856.— Jehu, though he 
destroyed Baal, yet followed in 
the sins of Jeroboam, by wor- 
shipping the two golden calves; 
but for his faithfulness in ex- 
terminating Ahab's family God 
promised the kingdom to his 
descendants to the fourth gener- 
ation. 2 Kins?s x. 29-31. 

457. 11. Jehoahaz,856-839. 
— Son of Jehu. Reigned seven- 
teen years. Prophet — Elisha. 

458. Worships the Golden 
Calves ; oppressed by Hazael 
and Benliadad III.— Followed 
in the sins of Jeroboam, and 
was accordingly oppressed by 
Hazael, king of Syria, and his 
son, Benliadad III., who sue- 



b. c. 884-721. 



KINGS. 



217 



Jll d all — A maziah. 

afflicted with disease, and at 
length slain in his bed by two 
of his servants. 2 Kings xii. 
20, 21 ; 2 Cliron. xxiv. 25, 26. 

460. 9. Amaziah, 839-810. 
— Son of Joash. Keigned twenty- 
nine years. Prophet — Elisha. 
2 Kings xiv. 1-8 ; 2 Chron. xxv. 
1. 

462. Begins well. — Amaziah 
slew his father's murderers, but 
spared their children in obedi- 
ence to the law of Moses. He 
began his reign well, but did 
not remove the high places. 2 
Kings xv. 3-6; 2 Chron. xxv. 
2-4. 



Israel — Joash. 

ceeded him ; but Jehoahaz re- 
pented, and his successor, Joash, 
was enabled to rescue Israel. 
2 Kings xiii. 1—9. 

461. 12. Joash, or Jehoash, 
839-820. — Son of Jehoahaz. 
Reigned two years whilst his 
father was alive — in all fourteen 
years alone ; seventeen years 
altogether. Prophet — Elisha. 

463. Worships the Golden 
Calves; promised Three 
Victories by Elisha. — Joash 
walked in the sins of Jeroboam. 
Elisha fell sick and sent for 
Joash, who, at the prophet's 
command, shot an arrow from 
his window, but when desired 
to smite the ground did so only 
three times. Elisha then prom- 
ised him three victories over the 
Syrians, but rebuked him. for 
not smiting more. Elisha soon 
afterward died.* 2 Kings xiii. 
1-21. 



* Life of Elisha, 896-833. — Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, 
was ploughing with twelve pair of oxen when Elijah called him to the 
prophetic office by throwing his mantle over him and anointing him as 
prophet, b. c. 896, in the reign of Jehoram. The same year Elijah 
was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire, and gave Elisha his mantle 
and a double portion of his spirit, which Elisha had previously asked 
for, and assured that he should receive if he were with Elijah at the 
time of his departure. Elisha was now the prophet in Israel in the 
room of Elijah, and the remainder of his life was a series of miracles — 
viz. : 

b. c. 896. 1st, He smote the Jordan with Elijah's mantle and divi- 
ded the stream. 2d, He healed the waters of Jericho by throwing in 
salt. 3d, He cursed the mocking children at Bethel, and forty-two 
were slain by two she-bears. 

b. c. 895. 4th, He miraculously supplied the allied armies of Judah, 
Israel, and Edom with water when perishing in the wilderness of Edom 
in their expedition against the Moabitcs. 5th, He promised the Shu- 
nammite a son. 

b. c. 894. 6th, He healed Naaman's leprosy. 7th, He transferred 
the leprosy to his servant Gehazi. 

B. c. 893. 8th, He made an iron axe's head to swim. 9th, He dis- 
closed the secret counsels of Benhadad II. to Jehoram, king of Israel. 
10th, He blinded the .Syrian host sent to take him. 

B. c. 892. 11th, He promised abundance of provision during the 
6iege of Samaria. 

19 



218 



2 KINGS. 



b. c. 884-721. 



Israel— Joash. 

465. Defeats the Syrians 
Three times, 836. — Joash de- 
feated the Syrians three times, 
as Elisha had promised, and 
recovered the cities west of the 
Jordan, which Hazael had taken 
from his father Jehoahaz. 

About this time Israel was 
invaded by predatory bands of 
Moabites. 2 Kings xiii. 20, 22- 
25. 



Judah — Amaziah. 

464. Defeats the Edomites, 

827. — Amaziah levied an army 
to attack the Edomites, and 
lured 100,000 Israelites, but 
being forbidden by a prophet 
to use the idolatrous mercena- 
ries, he sent them back, which 
so exasperated the 100,000 that 
they ravaged Judah on their 
way and killed 3000. Mean- 
time, Amaziah conquered the 
Edomites in the Valley of Salt, 
at the southern extremity of 
the Dead Sea, and took Selah 
[Petra]. 2 Kings xiv. 7; 2 
Chron. xxv. 5-13. 

466. Worships the Edomite 
Gods. — On his return after these 
splendid successes Amaziah was 
mad enough to worship the 
Edomite gods, and was threat- 
ened with destruction by a 
prophet. 2 Chron. xxv. 14- 
16. 

467. Amaziah defeated by Joash, 826. — Amaziah now chal- 
lenged Joash, king of Israel, to battle, but the latter replied, " The 
thistle that was in Lebanon said to the cedar, 'Give thy daughter 
as a wife to my son ;' but a wild beast passed by and trod down 
the thistle. Now, thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thy heart 
hath lifted thee up to boast, but tarry at home, for why shouldest 
thou meddle to thine hurt and fall, and Judah with thee?" 



B. c. 891. 12th, He healed the deadly pottage at Gilgal. 13th, He 
fed one hundred men with twenty loaves. 14th, He restored the Shu- 
nammite's son. 15th, He foretold seven years of famine when the 
Shunammite went to the land of the Philistines. 

B. c. 885. 16th, He foretold the death of Benhadad and accession of 
Hazael. 

b. c. 884. 17th, He sent to anoint Jehu, son of Niinshi, to be king. 

b. c. 888. He promised to Joash on his deathbed three victories over 
the Syrians. 

After Elisha's death a corpse was hastily thrown into his sepulchre, 
that the mourners might escape from the Moabites, who then infested 
Israel ; but as soon as the corpse touched the bones of Elisha it was 
restored to life. 

Elisha was contemporary with Joram, Jehu, and Joash, kings of 
Israel, and with Joram, Ahaziah, Atlialiah, and Joash, monarchs of 
Judah. 



B.C. 884-721. 



2 KINGS. 



219 



Amaziah would not, however, be thus warned, but marched 
against Joash, and was utterly defeated ; and the king of Israel 
took Jerusalem, broke down the wall, and plundered the temple 
and palace. 2 Kings xiv. 8-15 ; 2 Chron. xxv. 17-24. 



Judall — Uzziah. 

468. Slain at Lachish, 811. 

— A conspiracy was formed 
against Amaziah at Jerusalem, 
and he fled to Lachish, but was 
slain there. 2 Kings xiv. 19, 20 ; 
2 Chron. xxv. 27, 28. 

470. 10. Uzziah, or Aza- 
riali, 810-758. — Son of Ama- 
ziah. Reigned fifty-two years. 
Prophets — Zechariah, Joel, and 
Isaiah. 

472. Influence of Zecha- 
riah ; Kingdom flourishes.— 
Uzziah was sixteen years old 
when he ascended the throne, 
and as long as Zechariah the 
prophet lived he reigned right- 
eously and prospered. He sub- 
dued the Philistines and border- 
ing Arabs, and made the Am- 
monites tributary. He recover- 
ed the port of Elath on the Red 
Sea ; fortified Jerusalem with 
towers; built towers and wells 
in the desert ; and strengthened 
his works by the erection of new 
and extraordinary engines for 
the discharge of arrows and 
large stones. He also enrolled 
a large army like that of Je- 
hoshaphat, and provided ample 
stores of armor and wen pons. 
It is moreover particularly stated 
that he was fond of agriculture, 
and that both by example and 
encouragement he fostered hus- 
bandry, planting, and the keep- 
ing of cattle. 2 Kings xv. 1-4; 
2 Chron. xxvi. 1-16. 

474. Cir. 800.— Joel prophe- 
sied. See Prophetical Books — 
Joel. 

475. Smitten with Leprosy, 
cir. 765. — Uzziah, elated with 



Israel — Jeroboam II. 

469. 13. Jeroboam II., 825 

-784. — Son of Joash, had been 
made king whilst his father was 
engaged in the Syrian war, but 
now reigned alone forty-one 
years. 2 Kings xiv. 23. Pro- 
phets — Amos, Hosea, and Jonah. 

471. Decline of the Syrian 
Power. — The power of Damas- 
cus, which under Benhadad II. 
and Hazael appears to have ex- 
tended over nearly the whole of 
Syria, was now on the .decline. 
The cause is unknown. A civil 
war may have arisen between 
the states which had been uni- 
ted into one kingdom, or the 
growing might of Nineveh had 
begun to seize the provinces on 
the frontier. But the three vic- 
tories promised by Elisha to 
Joash had procured the recov- 
ery of the cities west of the Jor- 
dan, which had been seized by 
Hazael (sect. 465); and the proph- 
et Jonah now promised Jero- 
boam the recovery of Israel east 
of the river. 2 Kings xiv. 25, 26. 

473. Brilliant Successes 
against Syria ; flourishing 1 
period of Israelite History, 
822. — Jeroboam II. now recov- 
ered all the territory east of the 
Jordan, from Hamath to the 
Dead Sea, which had been tak- 
en by Hazael (sect. 453), and 
marching into Syria he recon- 
quered Hamath and Damascus. 
(See sect. 329.) Jeroboam, how- 
ever, walked in the sins of Jero- 
boam I., and worshipped the 
golden calves. 2 Kings xiv. 24- 
28. 

476. Cir. 787.— Amos proph- 



220 



2 KINGS. 



b. c. 884-721. 



Jadall — Jotham, Ahaz. 

prosperity, entered the temple 
to burn incense. Azariah and 
eighty other priests remonstrated 
with him in vain, and whilst the 
censer was in his hand an incur- 
able leprosy rose in his forehead. 
Jotham his son was vice-regent. 
2 Kings xv. 5 ; 2 Chron. xxvi. 
16-21. 

480. B. C. 760-698.— Isa- 
iah prophesied. See Prophetical 
Books — Isaiah. 

481. 11. Jotham, 758-742. 
— Son of Uzziah. Reigned six- 
teen years. Prophets — Isaiah 
and Micah. 

483. Reigned righteously 
and prosperously. — Jotham 
reigned righteously, and con- 
tinued the improvements and 
plans of his father. He built 
many fortresses, and erected the 
west gate of the temple, and 
obliged the Ammonites to pay 
tribute. 2 Kings xv. 32-35 ; 
2 Chron. xxvii. 1-6. 

485. B. C. 750-710.— Mi- 
cah prophesied. See Prophetical 
Books — Micah. 

487. 12. Ahaz, 742-726.— 
Son of Jotham. Reigned six- 
teen years. Prophets — Isaiah 
and Micah. 

488. Worships Baal and 
Molech. — Ahaz was the most 
corrupt monarch that had hith- 
erto belonged to the line of 
David. He adopted the idol- 
atrv of Ahab and made molten 



Israel — Zechariah-Pekahiah. 

esied. See Prophetical Books— 
Amos. 

477. Cir. 785.— Hosea pro- 
phesied. See Prophetical Books — 

HOSEA. 

478. INTERREGNUM, 784 

-773, lasting eleven years, dur- 
ing which no king reigned. 

479. 14. Zechariah, 773. 
Prophp:t — Hosea. — Son of Jer- 
oboam If., walked in the sins of 
Jeroboam, and was assassinated 
by Shall um after reigning six 
months. 2 Kings xv. 8-12. 

482. 15. Shallum, 772.— 
Son of Jabesh, reigned one 
month, and assassinated by Me- 
nahem. 2 Kings xv. 13-15. 

484. 16. Menahem, 772- 
761.— Son of Gadi, from Tirzah, 
walked in the ways of Jero- 
boam I. in worshipping the gold- 
en calves. Reigned ten years. 
Prophet — Hosea. 2 Kings xiv. 
17, 18. 

486. First Assyrian Inva- 
sion under Pnl.— Pul, king of 
Assyria,* invaded Israel, but 
Menahem bribed him with 
1000 silver talents [113,839 lbs., 
about £340,500] to return to his 
kingdom. This sum was raised 
by making the wealthy Israel- 
ites pay fifty shekels [22J oz. = 
£5 13s. 10d.] a man. 2 Kings 
xiv. 19, 20; x v. 16-22. 

489. 17. Pekahiah, 761- 
759. — Son of Menahem. 
Reigned two years. Prophet 



* Nineveh, or Nimrond, as has been proved by the recent researches 
of Mr. Layard, was situated on the eastern bank of the Tigris and near 
its junction with the Zab, about twenty miles south-east of the modern 
town of Mosul. The history of Assyria prior to the present period is 
uncertain, but, to use the words of Mr. Layard, "to reject the notion of 
the existence of an independent kingdom of Assyria at the very earli- 
est period would be almost to question whether the country were in- 
habited." It would be directly in opposition to the united testimony 
of Scripture and tradition ; and though a doubt may be entertained as 
to the dynasties, there is none as to its existence. 



b. c. 884-721. 2 KINGS. 221 

Judah — Ahaz. Israel — Pekah. 

images for Baalim ; he sacri- — Hosea. He walked in the 
ficed in the vale of Hinnom ways of Jeroboam I., and was 
and in groves on high places ; slain by one of his generals 
and he made bis son to pass and successor. 2 Kings xv. 
through the fire in honor of 23-26. 

Molech, and practised all the 490. 18. Pekah, 759-739. 
abominations of the heathen. — Son of Remaliah, and had 
2 Kings xvi. 1-4 ; 2 Chron. assassinated Pekah iah. He 
xxviii. 1-4. worshipped the golden calves 

like Jeroboam I., and reigned 
twenty years. 2 Kings xiv. 27, 
28. Prophets — Hosea and 
Oded. 

491. Pekah and Rezin ally; invade Judah, 742.— Pekah, 
king of Israel, now formed an alliance with Rezin, who appears 
to have re-established the kingdom of Syria. The two kings then 
invaded the territory of Ahaz and besieged Jerusalem, with the 
intention of placing an individual alluded to as the son of Tabeal 
(Isa. vii. 6) on the throne of Judah. The enterprise was unsuc- 
cessful, but Rezin seems to have marched southward and taken and 
occupied the port of Elath on the Red Sea. Isaiah then prophesied 
to Ahaz the destruction of both Pekah and Rezin [which was after- 
ward accomplished by the arms of Tiglath-pileser] ; and he also 
delivered as a sign the well-known prediction, 

"Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, 
And shall call his name Immanuel." Isa. vii. 14. 

2 Kings xvi. 5, 6. 

492. Second Invasion of Pekah and Rezin, 741.— Next 
year Pekah and Rezin again invaded Judah, and defeated Ahaz 
with the slaughter of 120,000 men ; and Rezin took a multitude 
of captives to Damascus, whilst Pekah carried away 200,000 
women and children and a large quantity of plunder to Samaria. 
But the prophet Oded remonstrated with Pekah against enslaving 
the children of Judah, and the elders of the national assembly* 
positively declared that the caplives should not be brought into 
the land ; and accordingly Pekah relieved the prisoners out of the 
spoil and returned them to their own country. 2 Chron. xxviii. 
5-15. 

493. Ahaz applies to Tiglath-pileser; Second Assyrian In- 
vasion; Syria and east of Jordan enslaved, 740.— The Edom- 
ites now invaded Judah and carried off* numerous prisoners, and 
the Philistines plundered the cities on the southern borders, whilst 

* In the text the}' are called the elders of Ephraim, but this name 
only appears to have been adopted by the ten tribes after their separa- 
tion from Judah. 

19* 



222 2 KINGS. 



b. c. 884-721. 



Ahaz was probably threatened by a third invasion of the kings 
of Israel and Syria. In this extremity the king of Judah sent 
gold and silver from the treasures of the temple and palace as a 
present to Tjgeath-pileser [or Tiglath-ptjl-asstjr — i. e. the 
tiger lord of Assyria'] to come to his assistance. Tiglath-pileser, 
who had ascended the throne of Assyria in the room of his 
father Pul, then marched an army westward, defeated and slew 
Rezin, sent the inhabitants to Kir, or Assyria Proper, and thus 
put an end to the kingdom of Damascene Syria." He also car- 

* History of Syria. — Syria, or Aram (from Aram, fifth son of Shem), 
was now merged in the Assyrian empire. It was bounded on the east 
by the Euphrates, west by the Mediterranean, north by Cilicia, and 
south by Phoenicia, Judaea, and Arabia Deserta. 

Cir. B. C. 1055. — Before the time of David, Syria was divided into 
cantons and governed by petty kings, each of whom reigned in his own 
city and territories. These petty kingdoms are frequently mentioned 
under the names of Zobah, Damascus, Hamath, Geshur, Rehob, Ishtob, 
Maachah, etc. 

Hadadezer, 1040-1036, was king of Zobah, and conquered by David, 
who after two brilliant victories extended his dominions to the Euphra- 
tes. (See sect. 329.) Contemporary with Hadadezer were Tor, king of 
Hamath, who sent his son Joram to congratulate David on his victories 
over Hadadezer; and Talmai, king of Geshur, whose daughter Ma- 
achah married David and became the mother of Absalom, and to whom 
Absalom fled after the murder of his brother Amnon. 2 Sam. viii. 9; 
xiii. 37. After the defeat of Hadadezer, Rezon, one of his captains, 
fled from him and reigned in Damascus. (See sect. 362.) 

Rezon, or Hezion, cir. 975. — During Solomon's reign Rezon, supposed 
to be the same as Hezion (1 Kings xv. 18), seems to have thrown off 
the Jewish yoke and founded the Syrian kingdom. 

Tabrimon, cir. 960. — Father of Benhadad I. and son of Hezion or 
Rezon. 

Benhadad, 941. — Succeeded his father. He assisted Asa, king of 
Judah, ravaged Israel, and compelled Baasha to give up the building 
of Ramah (sects. 389, 390). 

Benhadad II., 910-885. — Invaded Israel b. c. 901, accompanied by 
thirty-two petty kings, but was defeated by Ahab (sec. 411). 

B. c 900. Thought Jehovah was God only of the hills, and therefore 
attacked Ahab in the valley of Aphek, but was defeated with great 
slaughter. Fled to Aphek, but Ahab allied with him (sect. 412). 

b. c. 894. Sent Naainan, the Syrian leper, to Jehoram, king of Israel, 
to be cured (sect. 430). 

b. c. 893. Prepared to attack Israel, but his secret counsels were re- 
vealed to Jehoram by Elisha (sect. 431). 

b. c. 892. Blockaded Samaria and caused a terrible famine, but, hear- 
ing a noise of chariots and horses, he and bis army fled, and his camp- 
stores fell into the hands of the enemy (sect. 433). 

B. c. 885. Stifled by Hazael, according to Elisha's prophecy (sect. 440). 

Hazael, 885-839.— Ravaged Ramoth-gilead (sect. 440). 

B. c. 861. Attacked the Israelites east of the Jordan (sect. 453). 

B. c. 850-840. Oppressed Israel, captured Gath, and prepared to 
attack Jerusalem, but bribed to return back by Joash, king of Judah 
(sect. 456). b. c. 839. Died (sect. 458). 



B. c. 884-721. 



2 KINGS. 



223 



ried away the tribes east of the Jordan — Eeuben, Gad, and half 
Manasseh — captives to Media, where they were planted in Halah, 
Habor, and on the river Gozan ; and to these he added the other 
half of Manasseh, wh'ich was seated in Galilee. He thus relieved 
Ahaz, but we are subsequently told that he " distressed him, but 
strengthened him not." 2 Kings xvi. 7-9; 2 Chron. xxviii. 
16-21. 
B. C. 753. Rome was founded, according to Vakro. 



Judall — Ahaz, Hezekiah. 

494. Ahaz worships the 
Gods of Damascus. — Ahaz 
now went to Damascus to meet 
Tiglath-pileser. Here he saw 
an idolatrous altar, and sent a 
model of it to Urijah the priest, 
with directions to build one like 
it ; and upon his return to Jeru- 
salem he sacrificed on this altar 
to the gods of Damascus, shut up 
the temple, broke up the sacred 
vessels, and established idolatry 
throughout Judah. 2 Kings xvi. 
10-18 ; 2 Chron. xxviii. 22-25. 

499. Sun-dial of Ahaz.— 
Allusion is subsequently made 
to the sun-dial of Ahaz (see the 
reign of Hezekiah), and this is 
the first mention in Scripture of 
the use of dials for measuring 
time. The first mention of hours 
as a division of the day is in 
Dan. iv. 19 and in Tobit xi. 14. 

501. 13. Hezekiah, 726- 
608.— Son of Ahaz. Eeigned 
nineteen years. Prophets — 
Isaiah and Micah. 

502. Breaks the Serpent 



Israel — Hoshea. 

495. Pekah slain by Ho- 
shea, 730.— Hoshea, son of 
Elah, formed a conspiracy against 
Pekah and slew him, and ascend- 
ed the throne in his stead. 2 
Kings xv. 30. 

496. INTERREGNUM, 739- 
730. — Anarchy for nine 

YEARS. 

497. 19. Hoshea, 730-721. 

— Son of Elah. Eeigned nine 
years. Prophet — Hosea. 

498. Better than his Pre- 
decessors.— The regicide Ho- 
shea seems to have reigned bet- 
ter than the kings before him, 
though he followed in many of 
their sins. He allowed Heze- 
kiah of Judah to send messen- 
gers throughout Israel to invite 
the people to the passover at 
Jerusalem, and did not prevent 
his subjects from accepting the 
invitation. 2 Kings xvii. 1, 2; 
2 Chron. xxx. 6-11. 

500. Third Assyrian Inva- 
sion ; Shalmaneser makes 
Hoshea tributary, 728.— 



Benhadad III., cir. 839. — Joash, king of Israel, obtained three victo- 
ries over him, and recovered the cities west of the Jordan taken by 
llazacl, according to Elisha's prophecy (sect. 465). 

B. c. 822. Decline of the Syrian power. Jeroboam II. of Israel re- 
covers all the territory east of the Jordan, and conquers Hamath and 
Damascus (sect. 471). 

Rezin, cir. 742-740.— In n. c. 742 he joined Pekah, king of Israel, in 
an expedition against Ahaz, king of Judah, which failed (sect. 491). 

B.C. 741. Renewed the war, and w;is successful (sect. 192). 

B. c. 740. Tiglath-pileser was bribed by Ahaz, and, taking Damascus, 
he slew Uezin aud carried the Syrians captive to Kir, or Assyria Proper 
(sect. 493). 



224 



2 KINGS. 



b. c. 884-721. 



Judah — Hezekiah. 

and destroys Idolatry. — Heze- 
kiah began to reign at the age 
of twenty-five years. His first 
acts were to thoroughly extirpate 
idolatry throughout his domin- 
ions, and even to remove the 
high places, which his predeces- 
sors had preserved. Amongst 
other things he destroyed the 
brazen serpent which Moses had 
elevated in the wilderness (sect. 
228), and before which incense 
had been burned until his own 
time. 2 Kings xviii. 4. 

504. Restores the Worship 
of Jehovah and celebrates 
the Passover. — Hezekiah now 
purified the temple, reinstated 
the priests and restored their 
courses, and caused the passover 
to be kept with great solemnity 
for fourteen days, assembling 
the people from the eleven tribes 
of Israel, which had not been 
done since the days of Solomon. 
2 Kings xviii. 3, 5, 6 ; 2 Chron. 
xxix. 11-36; xxx. ; xxxi. 

506. Rebels against Shal- 
maneser : defeats the Philis- 
tines, 725. — Hezekiah now re- 
fused to pay the annual tribute 
to Shalmaneser which Tiglath- 

pileser had exacted from his 507. Colonization of Sama- 
father, Ahaz (sect. 493). He ria; Origin of the Samari- 
also invaded the Philistine terri- tans, 678. — Esarh addon, who 
tory, and subdued it as far as succeeded to Sennacherib on the 
Gaza. 2 Kings xviii. 7, 8. throne of Assyria, carried off 

the remnant that still remained 
in Israel, and sent men from 
Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, 
and Sepharvaim to colonize Sa- 
maria, who then took the name 
of Samaritans or Cuthseans. These colonists being afterward, on 
account of their idolatry, troubled with lions, Esarhaddon, at their 
request, sent them a priest to instruct them in the worship of 
Jehovah, whom they supposed to be the local god, and therefore 
the only one who could preserve them in Samaria. The colonists, 
however, set up the gods of the various nations to which they 
belonged, and mingled their worship with that of Jehovah. 



Israel— Hoshea. 

Shalmaneser, who appears to 
have succeeded Tiglath-pileser 
on the throne of Assyria, now in- 
vaded Israel, and made Hoshea 
tributary. 2 Kings xvii. 3. 

503. Hoshea rebels, and is 
Imprisoned, 725. — Ho<hea 
now appears to have envied the 
freedom and success of Heze- 
kiah, who had refused to pay 
tribute to Shalmaneser. Accord- 
ingly, he made a treaty with So, 
king of Egypt, and either the 
Sabacon or Sethon of Herodotus 
(xxx. 1-7), and refused to pay 
tribute, though Isaiah strongly 
reprehended the alliance. Shal- 
maneser then sent for Hoshea, 
and imprisoned him ; and the 
king of Egypt made no attempt 
to come to the assistance of the 
latter. 2 Kings xvii. 4. 

505. Siege of Samaria, and 
Captivity of Israel, 723- 
721. — Shalmaneser besieged 
Samaria, and took it after three 
years' siege, and carried away 
Israel captive beyond the Eu- 
phrates. 2 Kings xvii. 5-23 ; 
xviii. 9-12. 



b. c. 713. 2 KINGS XVIII. 225 

Eventually, after many Israelites had been incorporated amongst 
them, and they had erected a temple on Mount Gerizim, they 
abandoned idolatry, and worshipped Jehovah only. 

Third Period. — From the Assyrian Captivity of Israel 
until the Babylonian Captivity of Judah. b. c. 721— 
588 = 134 years. 

508. First Assyrian Invasion of Judah; Heze- 
Mah submits to Sennacherib, 713. — Sennacherib — or 
Sargon, as he is called by Isaiah — succeeded his father, 
Shalmaneser, on the throne of Assyria, b. c. 715, and in 
b. c. 713 prepared to punish the disaffection of Hezekiah. 
The inhabitants of Judah were now alarmed, and though 
it does not appear that the king himself despatched any 
embassy to Egypt, yet his nobles, in spite of the remon- 
strances of Isaiah (xxx.-xxxii.), sent camels and asses 
laden with treasure to ask aid from Pharaoh [Sethon],* 
and especially to request a force of cavalry and chariots. 
The weak parts of the wall of Jerusalem were mended ; 
a second wall was added, and towers and fortifications 
were erected, and the fountains in the neighborhood were 
stopped up. Hezekiah himself encouraged the people by 
his confidence in Jehovah. Whilst, however, Sennacherib 
was approaching Jerusalem, Hezekiah sent to offer him 
an unqualified submission, and a fine of three hundred 
talents of silver [34,151 lbs. 9 oz. =£122,455 5s.] and 
thirty talents of gold [3415 lbs. 2 oz. = £163,928] was im- 
posed upon him. Hezekiah paid the sum, though he was 
compelled to exhaust the sacred treasures, and even to 
strip the gold from the doors and pillars of the temple ; 
and Sennacherib then retired. 2 Kings xviii. 13-16. 

509. Sennacherib takes Ashdod and again in- 
vades Judah. — Sennacherib now took Ashdod in Phi- 
listia, one of the keys of Egypt, and then appears to 
have thought it would be unsafe to invade the latter coun- 
try whilst Judah remained still unsubdued in his rear. 
Accordingly, he again invaded the territories of Heze- 
kiah ; took all the fenced cities, except Libnah and 

* We learn from Herodotus that Sethon was priest of Vulcan, and 
had neglected the military caste, who accordingly refused to obey his 
orders. This may account for his not marching to the assistance of 
Hezekiah. — Herod., ii. 141. 

P 



226 2 KINGS XYIIL, XIX. b. c. 7i3. 

Lachish, to which he laid siege ; and sent by Rabshakeh 
and two other of his generals a haughty summons to Jeru- 
salem, requiring its immediate surrender. The latter also 
uttered blasphemies and disparaging expressions respect- 
ing Jehovah ; they alluded to the fallacy of expecting aid 
from Egypt ; and they endeavored to persuade the Jews 
to give hostages and pay homage by presents to the king 
of Assyria, by promising to leave them in peace until 
Sennacherib should carry them away to a land of corn 
and wine, like their own land.* Rabshakeh, however, 
returned without success to his master, whom he found 
besieging Libnah, whilst Isaiah prophesied the destruction 
of the Assyrian host : " Behold, I will send a blast upon 
him." 2 Kings xviii. 17-37 ; xix. 1-8 ; 2 Chron. xxxii. 
1-20 ; Isa. xxxvi. ; xxxvii. 1-8. 

510. Sennacherib called away by the Invasion of 
TirJiakah ; Destruction of his Army, — Just at this 
time the news arrived at Libnah that Tirhakah, king of 
Ethiopia,f was on his march to repel Sennacherib. The 
Assyrian king sent a boastful letter to Hezekiah, defying 
the God of Israel and threatening destruction on his re- 
turn, but his message of defiance was met by a splendid 
piece of inspired eloquence from Isaiah, which we still 
read with interest and admiration. 2 Kings xix. 21-34. 
But the career of Sennacherib was almost closed, and the 
very next night the Angel of Jehovah went out and 
smote in the camp of the Assyrians 185,000 men.| Sen- 



* This was exactly the spirit in which Darius, son of Hystaspis, sub- 
sequently transplanted the Paeonians from the Strymon into Asia. — 
fierod., v. 12-1 4. 

-f- This Ethiopia appears to answer to the country called by the ancients 
Meroe, and by the moderns Sennaar and Atbar. It is a large triangle 
formed by the Nile on the west, the Tacazze. a tributary of the Nile, o.i 
the east, and the highlands of Abyssinia on the south. The desert of 
Nubia divides it from Egypt, but its monarchs often held possession of 
Upper or Southern Egypt. It is therefore probable that Tirhakah, who 
is also in Manetho's list of Ethiopian kings of Egypt, reigned in the 
Thebais, or the upper country, whilst So, or Sethon, reigned in Lower 
Egypt. (See also Herod., ii. 137.) 

J Destruction of the Assyrian Army. — Respecting the means by Avhich 
the Assyrian army was destroyed, the Targum and Babylonian Talmud 
say it was by lightning. Isaiah refers to a blast (xxxvii. 7), and prob- 
ably it was effected by a hot wind, or simoom. Herodotus relates that 
at night multitudes of field-mice ate up the bow-strings, quivers, and 
shield-handles of the invaders, who were thus easily defeated on the 



b. c. 712-643. 2 KINGS XIX., XX. 227 

nacherib himself fled to Nineveh, and in revenge mur- 
dered many captive Jews, but was killed shortly after- 
ward by his two eldest sons whilst he was worshipping in 
the temple of Nisroch ;* and Esarhacldon his son reigned 
in his stead. This blow so weakened the Assyrian mon- 
archy as not only to free the king of Judah from his ap- 
prehensions, but enabled the Medes and Babylonians to 
assert their independence. [Herodotus dates the revolt 
of the Medes B.C. 711.] 2 Kings xix. 9-37; 2 Chron. 
xxxii. 21, 22; Isa. xxxvii. 9-38. 

511. Hezekiah 9 s Sickness, 712. — Hezekiah fell sick, 
and Isaiah predicted his death, but the king prayed to 
God, and Isaiah promised him fifteen years additional 
life, and confirmed it by the miracle of the sun's going 
back ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz. 2 Kings xx. 1-11 ; 
2 Chron. xxxii. 24 ; Isa. xxxviii. 

512. Messengers from 3lerodach-Baladan. king 
of Babylon. — Merodach-Baladan, king of Babylon, 
sent to congratulate Hezekiah on his recovery from sick- 
ness and on his delivery from the Assyrians, through 
which Merodach himself had been enabled to establish 
his independence in Babylon. Hezekiah treated the am- 
bassadors with the utmost respect, and showed them all 
his treasures ; but for this vanity Isaiah foretold the Bab- 
ylonian captivity, which took place one hundred and 
twenty-five years after. Hezekiah then humbled himself, 
and the threatened punishment was postponed until after 
his death. 2 Kings xx. 12-19 ; Isa. xxxix. 

513. Peaceful State of Judah, 709-698.— Heze- 
kiah now reigned in peace, increased in riches, built cities, 
and brought water into Jerusalem through reservoirs and 
conduits. Meantime, Esarhaddon, who had succeeded 
his father Sennacherib on the throne of Assyria, recovered 
the allegiance of the Babylonian kingdom. 2 Kings xx. 
20 ; 2 Chron. xxxii. 27-30. 

514. 14. Manasseh, 098-043.— Son of Hezekiah. 
Reigned fifty-five years. Prophet — Isaiah. 

ensuing day. This story is supposed to have arisen from the similarity 
of the words Aa/iis, "a mouse," and Aoi/j.os, "'a pestilence." Prideaux, 
paxnii)), and Baelir's note to Herod., ii. 141. 

• The eagle headed god. Zoroaster says, "(rod is he that has the 
head of a hawk." — Layard. 



228 2 KINGS XXL b. c. 677-610. 

515. Mestoj'es Idolatry and Necromancy. — Manas- 
seh ascended the throne at the age of twelve years, and it 
seems to have been the special object of his reign to over- 
throw all the good which his father Hezekiah had done 
for Judah. He practised all the sins of Ahab and Ahaz. 
He rebuilt the high places, set up altars to Baal and As- 
tarte, and worshipped the host of heaven like the Sabseans. 
He used enchantments, dealt with wizards and necro- 
mancers, and observed times by astrology or other methods 
of superstition ; and when he had a son old enough he 
made him pass through the fire in the valley of Hinnom. 
Moreover, he set up altars to the host of heaven in the 
two courts of the temple, and introduced a graven image 
into the sanctuary. He also carried on a fearful persecu- 
tion, and shed innocent blood very much, until he had 
filled Jerusalem from one end to the other. Isaiah se- 
verely remonstrated with him, and is supposed to have- 
been martyred in consequence. 2 Kiugs xxi. 1-16 ; 2 
Chron. xxxiii. 1-10. 

516. Carried into Assyrian Captivity by Esarhad- 
don, 677 ; humbles himself. — Esarhaddon's captains 
now invaded Judah, and in order, probably, to prevent 
another disaffection, they carried Manasseh in chains to 
Babylon. Here the king humbled himself, and the Lord 
heard him and brought him back to his kingdom, and he 
then eradicated idolatry, restored the worship of Jehovah, 
and fortified Jerusalem and his fenced cities. 2 Chron. 
xxxiii. 11-20. 

517. 15. Anton, 643-641. — Son of Manasseh, suc- 
ceeded, and restored idolatry. He was slain by his ser- 
vants after reigning two years, but the conspirators were 
again slain by the people. 2 Kings xxi. 19-26 ; 2 Chron. 
xxxiii. 21-25. 

518. 16. Josiah, 641-610. — Son of Amon. Reigned 
thirty-one years. Peophets — Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Ha- 
bakkuk, and Huldah the prophetess. 

519. Seeks God in his youth ; purges Judah and 
Israel from Idolatry. — Josiah ascended the throne in 
the eighth year of his age, and in the eighth year of his 
reign, when he was only sixteen years old, he began to 
seek after the God of his fathers. In the twelfth year of 
his reign he began to purge the land from idolatry. His 



B. c. 630-624. 2 KINGS XXIL, XXIII. 229 

rule seems to have extended over both Judah and Israel, 
and embraced all the territory west of the Jordan, for he 
broke down the altars of Baal, cut down the groves, and 
the carved and molten images, not only in Judah and Je- 
rusalem, but also throughout all the land of Israel. 2 
Kings xxii. 1, 2 ; 2 Chron. xxxiv. 1-7. 

520. Cir. B. C. 630. Zephanlah prophesied. See 
Prophetical Books — Zephaniah. 

521. B. C. 629. Jeremiah began to prophesy. See 
Prophetical Books — Jeremiah. 

522. Cir. B. C. 626. Habakkuk prophesied. See 
Prophetical Books — Habakkuk. 

523. Repairs the Temple, 624. — Josiah in the eight- 
eenth year of his reign determined on repairing the tem- 
ple at Jerusalem, and ordered the great chest to be opened 
in which the freewill offerings, etc. were deposited ; and 
he delivered the money to faithful overseers, who were 
immediately to put the work in hand and pay the work- 
men. 2 Kings xxii. 3-7 ; 2 Chron. xxxiv. 8-13. 

524. Book of the Law found by Hilkiah, and con- 
firmed by Huldah, 624. — Meantime, Hilkiah the 
priest, and father of Jeremiah, found in the treasury- 
chamber an original copy of the Law, containing the fear- 
ful denunciations of Jehovah against all idolatry. The 
book was read to Josiah, who then sent to inquire of the 
Lord through Huldah the prophetess. Huldah declared 
that the wrath of the Lord would be executed upon the 
land for its idolatry, but not in the time of Josiah. The 
king himself then read the book publicly to the people 
in the temple, who thereupon entered into a covenant with 
Josiah to serve the Lord. 2 Kings xxii. 8-20 ; xxiii. 1-3 ; 
2 Chron. xxxiv. 14-32. 

525. The Altar of Jeroboam thrown down. — A 
further destruction of idolatry followed, and Josiah went 
to Bethel, and took " the altar which was at Bethel, and 
the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who 
had made Israel to sin, had made," and broke them down, 
" and burned the high place, and stamped it small to 
powder, and burned the grove." He also " sent and took 
the bones " of the deceased priests " out of the sepulchres, 
and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it;" thus 
fulfilling the prediction given to Jeroboam three hundred 

20 



230 2 KINGS XXIII. b.c. 623-610. 

and sixty years before. (See sect. 377.) 2 Kings xxiii. 
4-20 ; 2 Chron. xxxiv. 33. 

526. Celebration of a Solemn Passover, 623, — Af- 
ter this Josiah thoroughly purified the land from idolatry, 
witchcraft, and wizards, and restored the ark to the tem- 
ple, which it is supposed Manasseh or Amon had re- 
moved ; and he and the people celebrated the passover 
with greater strictness and solemnity than had been dis- 
played since the days of Samuel the prophet. 2 Kings 
xxiii. 21-25 ; 2 Chron. xxxv. 1-19. 

527. Decline of the Assyrian Empire under JEsar- 
haddon, Saosduchinus, and Chyniladanus. — Mean- 
time, the Assyrian power had been on the decline, and 
Inner Asia had been the theatre of great revolutions. 
Esarhaddon, the successor of Sennacherib (sect. 510), 
had resubdued the Babylonians, but had failed in re- 
ducing the Medes. His son Saosduchinus was the Nebu- 
chadonosor of the book of Judith, and was succeeded by 
Chyniladanus, or Sarac, in Whose reign the Chaldees 
revolted, took Babylonia, and, having joined the Medes, 
succeeded in taking Nineveh and overthrowing the As- 
syrian empire, about b. c. 606. (See sect. 535.) 

528. Invasion of Tharaoh-Necho ; Josiah slain, 
610. — Whilst the Assyrian power was involved in wars 
with the Medes and Chaldees, Egypt had been consoli- 
dating its strength. When we last mentioned this coun- 
try it was in a state of internal struggles between the 
priests and military, and Tirhakah the Ethiopian ruled 
in Upper Egypt (sect. 510, note, and sect. 508). After 
this a civil war arose, which ended in the division of the 
country into twelve independent kingdoms, called the 
Dodecarthy. About b. c. 650, Psammetichus, one of 
these kings, reigned at Sais, and by the adoption of Greek 
tactics and defensive armor, and the employment of Ca- 
rian and Ionian mercenaries, he subdued all his fellow- 
kings and united all Egypt under a single sceptre. The 
policy of the Egyptian monarchy was now entirely 
changed ; Greeks were permanently established in Egypt 
as merchants, and the Egyptians began to mingle in for- 
eign affairs. Necho, son of Psammetichus, succeeded to 
the throne,, b. c. 617, being the twenty-fourth year of the 
reign of Josiah. He cut a canal from the Red Sea to 



b. c. 010-599. 2 KINGS XXIII. 231 

the Mediterranean and built a fleet of triremes, and at 
length determined to attack the Assyrian power. His 
march was directed to Carchemish, an important post on 
the Euphrates ; and he accordingly followed the usual 
route along the sea-coast of Palestine northward. Mean- 
time, Josiah heard of the expedition. He had probably 
been permitted to retain his kingdom by Assyria on con- 
dition of defending the frontier against Egypt ; and ac- 
cordingly he now posted his forces in the plain of Es- 
draelon, or Jezreel, to intercept Necho. The latter sent 
messengers to advise Josiah to desist from interfering, but 
in vain. A battle ensued, and Josiah, who went out in 
disguise, was slain by the archers in the valley of Me- 
giddo. " And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah ; all the 
singing-men and singing-women spake of Josiah in their 
lamentations to this day." 2 Kings xxiii. 29, 30 ; 2 Chron. 
xxxv. 20-27. 

529. 17. Jehoahaz, or Shallum, 610, — Son of Jo- 
siah, though not the eldest, and was made king by the 
people. Prophet — Jeremiah. 

530. Heights wickedly ; deposed by Necho, — Mean- 
time, Necho pursued his course to the Euphrates, and 
after three months returned victorious, having captured 
Carchemish and defeated the Assyrians. He now appears 
to have acted as lord-paramount of Judah. He put Je- 
hoahaz in bands at Riblah in Hamath in Syria, and con- 
demned the land to pay in tribute one hundred talents of 
silver [£34,151] and one talent of gold [£5464]. He 
then went to Jerusalem and placed Eliakim, son of Josiah, 
on the throne, in the room of Jehoahaz, and changed his 
name to Jehoiakim; and afterward returned to Egypt, 
carrying Jehoahaz with him as a hostage. 2 Kings xxiii. 
31-34 ; 2 Chron. xxxvi. 1-4. 

531. IS. Jehoiakim, 610-599.— Son of Josiah. 
Reigned eleven years. Prophets — Jeremiah, Daniel, 
Urijali. 

532. Reigns wickedly ; Jeremiah and Urijah 
prophesy against him, — The first act of Jehoiakim 
was to exact from the people the tribute which Necho 
had imposed. lie reigned wickedly, and Jeremiah proph- 
esied against Judah, and was threatened with death, but 
acquitted because he spoke in the name of the Lord, as 



232 2 KINGS XXIII. b. c. 609-607. 

Micah had done in the reign of Hezekiah. Urijah the 
prophet also prophesied against his country, and was com- 
pelled to fly to Egypt, but brought back by Jehoiakim's 
orders, and slain and buried in the graves of the common 
people. 2 Kings xxiii. 34-37 ; 2 Chron. xxxv. 5 ; Jer. 
xxvi. 

533. Charged by Jeremiah with the Murder of 
Urijah, 609. — Jeremiah charged Jehoiakim with the 
murder of Urijah, and with general violence and oppres- 
sion, and predicted that he should be cast out of Jerusa- 
lem and buried as an ass. Jer. xxii. 16-19. 

534. Jeremiah publicly foretells the Seventy Years 9 
Captivity, 607. — Jeremiah now contrasted the apostasy 
of the Jews with the obedience of the Rechabites to their 
father, Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, iu drinking no wine, 
living in tents, and neither possessing nor occupying any 
houses, fields, or vineyards (sect. 201, note). (They gained 
their livelihood by being scribes.) Jeremiah also caused 
Baruch to write his prophecy and read it publicly in the 
temple, and foretold the conquest of Egypt by Nebuchad- 
nezzar, and THE SEVENTY YEARS' CAPTIVITY OF THE JEWS : 

"And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an aston- 
ishment ; and these nations shall serve the king of Baby- 
lon seventy years. And it shall come to pass when sev- 
enty years are accomplished, that I will punish the king 
of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord." Jer. xxv. 
11. 12. "After seventy years be accomplished at Baby- 
lon, I will visit you, and perform my word toward you, 
in causing you to returD to this place." Jer. xxix. 10. 

535. Overthrow of the Assyrian JPotver ; Rise of 
the Medo- Persian and Chaidee- Babylonian Em- 
pires. — The Assyrian empire, which had been long on 
the wane, was about this time overthrown by a powerful 
combination of the new kingdoms of Media and Chaldee- 
Babylonia. The Medes under Deioces had revolted from 
the Assyrians about b. c. 712, after the destruction of the 
army of Sennacherib (sect. 510), and, having conquered 
the Persians, commenced an empire. Cyaxares, the third 
in the Median line of kings, had defeated the Assyrians 
and besieged Nineveh, but was called away by an inva- 
sion of the Scythians, a nation of Tartary which had come 
down in a vast body upon Media from the country north 



b. c. 606. 2 KINGS XXIV. 233 

of the Caucasus, and held a rule in Inner Asia for twenty- 
eight years. Meanwhile, the Chaldees, who anciently 
occupied the mountains of Armenia and had been sub- 
ject to the Assyrians, revolted from the rule of the latter, 
and under the Assyrian general Nabopolassar, who is the 
first-mentioned king of the Chaldees, and the father of 
Nebuchadnezzar, they seized the kingdom of Babylon.* 
Nabopolassar afterward allied with Cyaxares, and the two 
powers then took Nineveh and shared the Assyrian em- 
pire, the Medes appropriating Assyria Proper, and leav- 
ing to Nabopolassar Babylonia and its dependent prov- 
inces, including all the lower country of Mesopotamia 
and as much as he could conquer of Syria. 

536. TharaoJi-Necho defeated by Nebuchadnezzar, 
— During the first three years of Jehoiakim's reign Necho 
had been pushing his conquests eastward to the border 
of the Euphrates, until his progress was stopped by the 
newly-risen Chaldee power. Nabopolassar was fast de- 
clining in health, and had confided his army to his son 
Nebuchadnezzar, who obtained a decisive victory over 
Necho at Carchemish, where the latter had formerly been 
so successful against Assyria. The death of Nabopolassar, 
however, suddenly recalled Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon ; 
but as soon as the young prince had secured himself on 
his father's throne he resumed the aggressive, and within 
a year of his victory at Carchemish had swept off every 
vestige of Egyptian power in Syria, and presented his ir- 
resistible armies on the eastern side of Palestine. 

537. Nebuchadnezzar takes Jerusalem; makes 
Jehoiakim tributary; carries off Daniel and the 
Three pious Jews, (>0(i. — Nebuchadnezzar soon ap- 
peared in Judaea at the head of his victorious armies, 
and no help from Egypt was now at hand. He took Je- 
rusalem after a short siege, and plundered the temple, 
and bound Jehoiakim in fetters to carry him to Baby- 
lon, but liberated him on condition of his paying a large 
tribute and giving hostages, amongst whom were Daniel 
and his three companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- 
nego. 2 Kings xxiv. 1 ; 2 Chron. xxxvi. 6-8; Dan. i. 1-6. 



* The city of Babylon was seated on the Euphrates, about two hun- 
dred miles to the south of Nineveh. 

20* 



234 2 KINGS XXIV. b. c. 605-599. 

From this date is calculated the commencement of the seventy 
years' captivity, though Judah was not entirely carried away 
before b. c. 588. 

538. Jeremiah's Prophecies again publicly read, 
Jehoiakim seeks to Destroy him, 605. — A public fast 
was this year proclaimed in Jerusalem, and Baruch read 
the roll of Jeremiah's prophecies concerning the Baby- 
lonian captivity publicly in the temple a second time. 
This was repeated to Jehoiakim, who then heard the roll 
read and burnt it, and sought to take Baruch and Jere- 
miah, but they lay concealed. The latter by God's direc- 
tion then prepared another roll of prophecy, and in it 
declared that none of Jehoiakim's posterity should as- 
cend the throne, and that his own carcass should be 
exposed to the heat by day and the frost by night. 
Jer. xxxvi. 

539. Jehoiakim revolts from Nebuchadnezzar, 
603. — For three years Jehoiakim remained faithful to 
his allegiance, but at length revolted. Nebuchadnezzar 
appears to have been unable to come in person, but at 
length sent up some bands of Chaldees, who with a mixed 
army of the neighboring Syrians, Moabites, and Ammo- 
nites ravaged Judah and carried away 3320 captives. 
2 Kings xxiv. 1, 2. 

540. Jerusalem blockaded; Jehoiakim slain , 599. 
— At length Jerusalem was blockaded, and Jehoiakim was 
taken and slain in a sally, and his body thrown out be- 
yond the gates ; and thus he was buried with the burial 
of an ass, according to the prophecy of Jeremiah (sect. 
533). 2 Kings xxiii. 6 ; 2 Chron. xxxvi. 8. 

541. Daniel began to prophesy in this reign. See Pro- 
phetical Books — Daniel. 

542. 19. Jehoiachin, or Jeconiah, or Coniah, 599. 
— Son of Jehoiakim. Reigned three months. Prophets 
— Jeremiah and Daniel. 

543. Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem in per- 
son ; carries away 10,000 captives, 599. — Jehoia- 
chin reigned wickedly for three months, when Nebuchad- 
nezzar arrived in person and pressed the siege of Jerusalem 
with vigor. Jehoiachin, with his mother, princes, servants, 
and officers, at length surrendered, and Nebuchadnezzar 
carried them and 10,000 captives, including Ezekiel and 



B. c. 599-590. 2 KINGS XXIV. 235 

Mordecai, to Babylon, together with the treasures of the 
palace and temple, as predicted by Jeremiah (sect. 534). 
None remained but the poorer people. Nebuchadnezzar 
then made Mattaniah, uncle of Jehoiachin, king in the 
room of the latter, and changed his name to Zedekiah, 
and bound him with an oath to maintain fidelity. 2 Kings 
xxiv. 8-16 ; 2 Chron. xxxvi. 9, 10. 

544. Zedekiah, 599-588. — Youngest son of Josiah 
and uncle of Jehoiachin. Reigned eleven years. Proph- 
ets — Jeremiah, Obadiah, Daniel and Ezekiel. 

545. False Prophets predict the speedy Return 
from Captivity, 598. — Some false prophets were pre- 
dicting to the Jewish captives at Babylon a speedy re- 
turn to their country, when Jeremiah wrote a letter rec- 
ommending the latter to settle quietly in the land of their 
captivity. Shemaiah the Nehelamite then wrote from Bab- 
ylon to Jerusalem, urging the priests to punish Jeremiah 
for prophesying seventy years' captivity, and was himself 
punished by Jeremiah's declaring that neither he nor his 
posterity should return to Judsea. In b. c. 596, Hananiah 
predicted that the captivity would cease in two years, but 
Jeremiah prophesied that he would die within the year, 
which was accomplished. Jer. xxvii. ; xxviii. 

546. jB. C. 595. — Ezekiel commences his prophetical 
career by the river Chebar in Chaldea. See Prophetical 
Books — Ezekiel. 

547. Zedekiah allies with Pharaoh - Hophra 
{Apries), and rebels, 593. — Necho, king of Egypt, 
had been succeeded by his son Psammis, who died after a 
short reign of six years. Hophra — called by the Greeks 
Apries — ascended the throne of his father b. c. 595. He 
was an enterprising and, for a long period, a successful 
prince. He took Gaza, and made himself master of 
Phoenicia and part of Palestine, and thus recovered 
much of that influence in Syria which the Assyrians 
and Babylonians had taken from Egypt. With this 
Hophra, Zedekiah formed a secret compact, and then 
in the seventh year of his reign rebelled against Neb- 
uchadnezzar. 2 Kings xxiv. 20 ; 2 Chron. xxxvi. 13 ; 
Jer. xxxvii. 5. 

548. Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem ; lletreat 
of JLoplira, 590. — From this period Nebuchadnezzar 



236 2 KINGS XXV. b. c. 589-5S8. 

seems to have given up the attempt to maintain Judaea 
as a separate state, and to have determined on incorpo- 
rating it absolutely as a province with his empire. He 
led an army with little delay into Judsea, and besieged 
Jerusalem, and built forts outside it to harass the coun- 
try and repel supplies. Jeremiah advised the king to 
save the city and temple by unreserved submission to 
the Chaldeans, but Zedekiah trusted in his Egyptian al- 
liance; but, as it was a sabbatical year, he proclaimed 
liberty to all the Hebrew servants and slaves in Jeru- 
ralem. Hophra at the head of an Egyptian army now 
marched to the relief of his ally, and Nebuchadnezzar 
drew off his forces from Jerusalem and advanced to meet 
him. The Egyptian king was terrified at the strength of 
the Chaldean army, and retreated to Egypt, but in the mean 
time the Jews, believing that Nebuchadnezzar would never 
return, cancelled the proclamation of liberty to the He- 
brew servants and indulged in demonstrations of joy at 
their supposed deliverance. Jeremiah, however, had pre- 
viously predicted the return of Nebuchadnezzar and burn- 
ing of Jerusalem, and during the absence of the Chaldeans 
had endeavored to escape from the city, but was seized at 
the gate for a deserter and imprisoned in the house of Jon- 
athan the scribe. Jer. xxxvii. 11-15. 

549. Zedekiah secretly applies to Jeremiah; the 
Princes throw the Prophet into a Pit, 589. — In the 
following year Nebuchadnezzar, having thus repulsed 
Hophra, renewed the siege, and Zedekiah applied secretly 
to Jeremiah concerning the fate of Jerusalem, but the 
prophet repeated his former predictions. The princes of 
Judah were now angry with Jeremiah, and removed him 
to the court of the prison, where he was afterward thrown 
into a deep pit of mire, but rescued by Ebedmelech, an 
Ethiopian and one of Zedekiah's eunuchs. 2 Kings xxv. 
1-3 ; Jer. xxxviii. ; xxxix. 1. 

550. Jerusalem taken, 588. — On the seventh day of 
the fourth month, the city being broken up by famine 
and the middle gate in the hands of the enemy, Zedekiah 
and his men of Avar escaped at night, but the Chaldeans 
overtook him without his army in the plains of Jericho, 
and carried him to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah in Hamath 
in Syria. Nebuchadnezzar slew his sons in his presence, 



b. c. 583. 2 KINGS XXV. 237 

and then put out his eyes and sent him in brazen chains 
to Babylon, where he died in prison, having reigned eleven 
years. Two apparently contradictory prophecies were 
thus fulfilled concerning him. Jeremiah had declared 
that he should see Nebuchadnezzar, and be carried to 
Babylon ; whilst Ezekiel had said that he should go to 
Babylon and not see it. Jer. xxxiv. 3 ; Ezek. xii. 13 ; 
2 Kings xxv. 4 ; Jer. xxxix. 2. 

551. Nebuzaradan sacks the City, — The walls of Je- 
rusalem were now broken down by Nebuzaradan, Neb- 
uchadnezzar's general, who also sacked and burnt the city 
and temple, and carried away nearly the whole nation cap- 
tive to Babylon. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 14-21 ; Jer. lii. 12-23. 

552. Gedaliah appointed Governor ; slain by IsJi- 
mael. — Nebuchadnezzar then appointed Gedaliah to be 
governor over the remnant of the people who remained in 
J udah ; and he released Jeremiah and permitted him to 
continue with Gedaliah at Mizpeh, as the prophet had re- 
quested. Gedaliah was afterward treacherously slain at 
a feast by Ishmael, a descendant of the royal house of 
Judah, who murdered many other Jews and sought to 
carry the remainder captive to the Ammonites. Jer. xl. ; 
xli. 1-10. 

553. Jeremiah and Baruch go to Egypt; He- 
mainder of the People taken to Babylon. — Johanan, 
one of Gedaliah's chief officers, overtook Ishmael and re- 
covered the captives, and fled with them to Egypt, taking 
Jeremiah and Baruch with him. Four years afterward 
Nebuzaradan carried off the few people that remained in 
Judah, seven hundred and forty-five in number. Mean- 
while, new colonists were not introduced, as had been 
done by the Assyrians in Samaria ; and, although nomadic 
tribes wandered through the country and the Idumeans 
settled in some southern districts, yet the land remained 
desolate for the appointed time. 2 Kings xxv. 22-26 ; Jer. 
xli. 11-18. 

B. C. 588. — Thus was Judah carried away cap- 
tive OUT OF HIS OWN LAND 507 YEARS FROM THE 

anointing of saul, 468 years after the accession 
of David, 388 years from the death of Solomon, 
and 134 years from the captivity of the ten 

TRIBES. 



238 1 AND 2 CHRONICLES. 

{History continued at p. 244.) 

554. History of Assyria. — The geographical limits of As- 
syria varied at different periods of the empire. (See Introductory 
Outline of the Geography.) 

Nimrod, cir. 2234:. — Son of Cash, founded the kingdom 
of Babel, or Babylon, in the land of Sliinar — i. e. Mesopotamia or 
Padan-aram — when Asshur or Assur, second son of Shem, mi- 
grated from Shinar to the country called, after him, Assyria. 
Nimrod afterward invaded and conquered Assyria, built Nineveh, 
and called it after his son, Ninus. Gen. x. 10, 11. 

Chedorlaomer, cir. 1 91. — King of Elam, with three con- 
federate kings, took Lot prisoner, and was afterward defeated by 
Abram. Gen. xiv. 

Interregnum of more than one thousand years. 

Cir. B. C. 802. — A king of Nineveh, name unknown, lived 
in the time of Jonah. 

1. Pal. cir. 771. — Invaded Israel, and obliged Menahem to 
pay one thousand silver talents. 

2. Tiglatli-pileser, cir. 750. — Being bribed by Ahaz, 
B. c. 740, lie carried off the Damascenes captive to Kir, or Assyria 
Proper, and slew Pezin. Conquered the Edomites and Philistines. 
Attacked Pekah, king of Israel, invaded Galilee, and carried off 
the Trans-Jordanic tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh, and 
planted them in cities of the Medes. 

3. Shalmaneser, 730. — Invaded Israel and made Hoshea 
tributary. In b. c. 725 the latter rebelled, and Shalmaneser im- 
prisoned him, besieged Samaria for three years, and in b. c. 721 
carried the ten tribes into captivity, and placed them in the cities 
where Tiglath-pileser had previously stationed the Trans-Jordanic 
tribes. 

4. Sennacherib, 7 15. — Invaded Hezekiah, but his army 
was destroyed by an angel. Medes revolted b. c. 712. 

5. Esarhaddorif 710. — Colonized Samaria. Themonarchs 
who succeeded him are unimportant; their power rapidly declined, 
and the empire was at length overthrown by the Medes and Chal- 
dee-Babylonians. (See sect. 535.) 



1 AND 2 CHRONICLES. 

(Supposed to be written by Ezra.) 

[The two books form but one in the Hebrew canon, which was 
called "The Book of Journals," or the "Word of Days." 
In the Septuagint they are called YlapatetTro/neva, or " Things 
omitted," and were named the Books of Chronicles by 
Jerome.] 



1 AND 2 CHRONICLES. 239 

1 Chronicles. — Genealogical Tables from Adam to Ezra, 4004- 
1056.— Death of Saul, 1056.— Reign of David, 1056-1015.— Alto- 
gether, b. c. 4004 to 1015, about 2989 years. 

2 Chronicles* — Reign of Solomon, 1015-975. — History of 
the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, 975-588. — Edict of Cyrus, 536. — 
Altogether, B. c. 1015 to 536, about 479 years. 

The two Books of Chronicles thus extend from b. c. 4004 to 536, 
about 3468 years. 



555. As the two Books of Chronicles relate the same 
history as the Books of Samuel and Kings, the summary 
of the facts they contain need not be repeated here ; for, 
though they embrace many particulars which are omitted 
in the former books, yet we have inserted these particulars 
in their proper place in the history, making sufficient 
reference to those chapters in the Chronicles from whence 
they are extracted. 

556. Ezra, who was probably the writer of these Chroni- 
cles, appears to have had three particular objects in their 
compilation — viz. 1st. To point out from the public records 
the state of the different families before the Captivity, that 
at their return they might again possess their respective 
inheritances. 2d. To enable the Jews to conduct the 
worship of God as before, by entering minutely into the 
duties, genealogies, families, and orders of the priests and 
Levites. 3d. To stir the Jews to a holy zeal for restoring 
the temple and its service by dwelling on those parts of 
the character of David, Solomon, Hezekiah, and Josiah 
which illustrate their pious care in these respects. One 
important use also of the genealogical tables is to give 
that succession of families through which it had been 
prophesied that the Messiah should come ; and thus the 
descendants of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David are 
marked with the greatest care. 

557. The two last verses of 2 Chronicles are the same 
as the beginning of Ezra. 



HISTORY OF THE CHALDEE-BABYLONIAN 
EMPIRE 

DURING THE SEVENTY YEARS' CAPTIVITY, 

FORMING A CONNECTION BETWEEN 2 KINGS AND 2 CHRONICLES AND THE BOOK 
OF EZRA. B. C. 606-536.* 

[Though Jerusalem was not taken until B. c. 588, yet the sev- 
enty years' captivity is reckoned from the fourth year of 
Jehoiakim's reign, b. c. 606, when Nebuchadnezzar car- 
ried away Daniel the prophet and others to Babylon. 
The seventy years' captivity ends in B. c. 536, when Cyrus, 
haying destroyed the Chaldee-Babylonian empire, pro- 
claimed that all the Jews might return to Judaea and re- 
build their temple ; and Ezra does not commence his his- 
tory until this edict of Cyrus.] 



1. Nebuchadnezzar's reign concluded, 588-562 ; golden image 
erected at Dura; conquers Tyre, Egypt, etc. ; beautifies Babylon. — 
His insanity. — 2. Evilmerodach, 562-560 ; released Jehoiachin. 
3. Neriglissor, 559-556; war with the Medes. — 4. Laborasoar- 
chod, 556. — 5. Belshazzar, 555-539 ; allied with Croesus ; Babylon 
taken by Cyrus after two years' siege. — Cvaxares II. — i. e. Darius 
the Mede — 539-537 ; Daniel thrown into the lions' den ; proph- 
esies the overthrow of the Persian empire by the king of Greece. 
—Cyrus, 537-530. 



558. 1, Nebuchadnezzar's Iieifjn concluded, 588- 
502 ; Golden Image erected at Dura, — Nebuchadnez- 
zar, having taken Jerusalem in b. c. 588, returned to Baby- 
lon, and about b. c. 557, he erected the golden image in the 
plains of Dura, which he commanded all his subjects to 
worship. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to 
obey the royal edict, and w r ere thrown into a furnace, but 

* The present outline has been chiefly compiled from the works of 
Prideaux and Jahn, who prefer Xenophon's history of Cyrus to that of 
Herodotus, to whom, however, reference is frequently made. The chro- 
nology of Dean Prideaux has been adopted throughout. 

240 



B. c. 586-572. CON". BET. 2 KINGS, 2 CHRON., AND EZRA. 241 

miraculously delivered by the direct interposition of Je- 
hovah. Dan. iii. 

559. Conquers Tyre, Egypt, etc., 586-572. — Neb- 
uchadnezzar returned to Palestine and besieged Tyre for 
thirteen years ; and as the neighboring places must have 
suffered severely during this period, it is probable that 
the prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel were then accom- 
plished against the Zidonians, Philistines, Edomites, and 
Moabites. Jer. xxvii. ; Ezek. xxv. In B.C. 584, Nebuzar- 
adan, general of Nebuchadnezzar, again invaded Pales- 
tine, probably to revenge the death of Gedaliah ; and he 
carried away captive the residue of the Jews and Israel- 
ites, seven hundred and forty-five in number. Jer. Iii. 30. 
(Sect. 553.) In b. c. 574, the Egyptian army revolted 
from Pharaoh-Hophra (called Apries by Herodotus), and 
made Amasis king ;* and in b. c. 573, Nebuchadnezzar 
took Tyre, but not before the inhabitants had escaped by 
sea with the most valuable of their treasures ; and the 
next year marched against Egypt, which now, on account 
of the intestine disturbances occasioned by the rival claims 
of Apries and Amasis, was still weaker than at the time 
when she dared not hazard a battle with the Chaldeans 
for the relief of Jerusalem (sect. 548). Nebuchadnezzar 
accordingly soon made himself master of the country, and 
transferred many Egyptians, as he had before Jews, 
Phoenicians, and Syrians, to the territory beyond the 
Euphrates. Megasthenes, as quoted by Josephus, says 
that he then laid waste a great part of Africa, penetrated 
to Spain, and in the greatness of his exploits excelled 
Hercules himself. Strabo says, " He is venerated by the 
Chaldeans more than Hercules by the Greeks, for he went 
not only to the Pillars of Hercules [Gibraltar], but 
marched through Spain to Thrace and Pontus ;" but these 
accounts are manifestly fabulous. Ezek. xxvi. ; xxix. 17, 
18 ; xxx. 

560. Beautifies Babylon. — Nebuchadnezzar now em- 
ployed his wealth in ornamenting the temples at Babylon 
and enriching the splendor of the city. According to 
Bcrosus and others, he built the following great works, 
which made Babylon one of the wonders of the world : — ■ 

II. rod., ii. 102, 103 ; Joseph., Ant., lib. x. c. 11. 
21 Q 



242 CON. BETWEEN 2 KINGS, 2 CHRONICLES, b. c. 569-556. 

viz. 1st. The walls ; 2d. The temple of Belus ; 3d. Neb- 
uchadnezzar's palace and hanging gardens ; 4th. The 
banks of the river ; 5th. The artificial lake and artificial 
canals. These works were afterward attributed to the 
fabled Semiramis, and it has also been said that they were 
completed by Nitocris, the mother of Belshazzar, the last 
of the Chaldee monarchs.* — Herod., lib. i. c. 185, 186 ; 
Joseph., Ant., lib. x. c. 11. 

561. His Insanity, 569-563. — About this time, ac- 
cording to the terrible prophecy of Daniel, Nebuchadnez- 
zar was afflicted with insanity, and he " was driven from 
men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet 
with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like 
eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws." Dan. iv. 
33. At length, in b. c. 562, he died, in the forty-fifth year 
of the seventy years' captivity, after reigning forty-three 
years alone and two years with his father, Nabopolassar. 
— Joseph., Ant., lib. x. c. 11. 

562. 2, Evilmerodach, 562-560 ; released Jehoia- 
chin. — Son of Nebuchadnezzar. He released Jehoiachin, 
king of Judah, who had languished in imprisonment for 
thirty-seven years (sect. 543) ; but he proved himself an 
unworthy and tyrannical ruler, and was assassinated in 
the second year of his reign by his brother-in-law, Neri- 
glissor. 2 Kings xxv. 27-30. Joseph, cont. Apion, lib. 1. 
The same year died Astyages, king of Media, who was 
succeeded by his son, Cyaxares II. (i. e. Darius the Mede), 
in the civil government, and by his grandson, Cyrus, in the 
military. — Zenoph., Cyr., lib. i. 

563. 3, Neriglissor, 559-556 ; War with the 
Medes. — Neriglissor was the son-in-law of Nebuchadnez- 
zar. He made great preparations for a war with the 
Medes, and invited the Lydians, Phrygians, Carians, Cap- 
padocians, Paphlagonians, Cilicians, and all the neighbor- 
ing nations to ally with him against the common enemy. 

* " That the hanging gardens were founded by Nebuchadnezzar, and 
not by Semiramis, is confirmed by Diodorus, where he says that a Syrian 
(Assyrian) king built them to please his consort. If this consort be re- 
garded as Herodotus's Nitocris — and according to his chronology, and 
his calling her the mother of the last king, Labynetus, such would ap- 
pear to be the case — then becomes cleared up how Nitocris came to be 
mentioned as having embellished Babylon by the great works she caused 
to be executed." — Heeren's Asiatic Nations. 



B. c. 556-539. AND THE BOOK OF EZRA. 243 

Meantime, Cyrus, in the fortieth year of his age, came to 
the assistance of his uncle, Cyaxares II, at the head of 
30,000 Persian troops, and was appointed general of the 
whole Median army. He defeated Neriglissor, and left 
him dead on the field of battle, in the fourth year of his 
reign. — Zenoph., Cyr., lib. i.-iv. 

564. 4, Laborasoarch od, 556, — Son of Neriglissor, 
was unjust and cruel, and was slain after a reign of nine 
months. — Joseph, cont. Apion, lib. i. 

565. 5. Belshazzar, 555-539 ; allied tvith Croesus, 
— Belshazzar was the son or grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, 
and is called Nabonad by Josephus and Labynetus by 
Herodotus. His mother appears to have been the same 
as the Nitocris of Herodotus — a very politic, active, and 
resolute woman, who completed the unfinished works of 
Nebuchadnezzar, and in effect governed the empire under 
her dissipated and thoughtless son. Belshazzar allied 
with Croesus, king of Lyclia, who was afterward utterly 
defeated by Cyrus in the eighth year of Belshazzar's 
reign, and Cyrus subsequently subjugated Asia Minor 
and all the country west of the Euphrates to the domin- 
ion of Cyaxares II. (i. e. Darius the Mede). Dan. v. — 
Herod., i. 77-81, 84. 

566. Cyrus besieges Babylon, 541. — Cyrus now 
commenced the siege of Babylon, but without success, and 
its high and strong walls, surmounted by lofty towers, its 
broad and deep ditches, its large magazines, and the nu- 
merous squares within the city, which were planted with 
corn and yielded an annual supply of provisions, seemed 
to secure its inhabitants for ever from all the attacks of 
their enemies. 

567. Takes the City, 539, — After two years' siege 
Cyrus took the city by a stratagem. On the same night 
that the portentous writing on the wall and Daniel's fear- 
ful prophecy had prepared Belshazzar for his approaching 
fate, and whilst the Babylonians were engaged at a fes- 
tival, he suddenly broke down the embankment between 
the Euphrates and the large artificial lake which had 
been dug to prevent the river from ever overflowing the city. 
The Euphrates, which ran through the centre of Babylon, 
was thus rendered fordable, and the army of Cyrus, being 
formed into two divisions, waded into the river at each end, 



2i4 EZRA. B.C. 536. 

and finding that the inhabitants had forgotten to shut the 
river-gates, they easily entered the city and surrounded 
the palace, and Belshazzar was quickly overpowered and 
slain. Dan. v. — Herod., i. 191 ; and Xenoph., Cyrop., c. vi. 
and vii. 

568. Darius the Mede — i. e. Cyaxares II, 538- 
536. — Darius, or Cyaxares II., son of Astyages, was now, 
at the age of sixty-two, placed by the arms of Cyrus on 
the throne of Babylon, which he governed according to 
the laws of the Medes and Persians, dividing the whole 
Persian and Babylonian empire into one hundred and 
twenty provinces. Dan. v. 31 ; vi. 1-3. 

569. Daniel thrown into the Lions 9 Den, 538. — 
Daniel was thrown into the lions' den for praying to God 
instead of to Darius, and the same year, having reckoned 
that the seventy years' captivity prophesied by Jeremiah 
(sect. 534) was approaching to a close, he earnestly pray- 
ed that God would remember his people and restore Jeru- 
salem. About this time also he prophesied the overthrow 
of the empire by the king of Greece, which was not ful- 
filled until b. c. 330, about two hundred years after. Dan. 
vi. (Sect. 626.) 

570. Cyrus, 536. — Cyaxares II. died B. c. 537, and 
Cambyses being also dead in Persia, Cyrus, son of Cam- 
byses and nephew of Darius, succeeded to the empire, 
which now comprised Media, Persia, Assyria, Baby- 
lonia, Asia Minor, Syria, Phcenicia, and Palestine. 
(For Chronology of the Persian kings, with their names as 
given in Scripture and in Profane History, see p. 257.) 



EZRA. 

(Written by Ezra.) 

HISTORY OF THE EDICT OF CYRUS AND FIRST RETURN" FROM CAPTIVITY UNDER 
ZERUBBABEL, AND THE GOVERNORSHIP OF EZRA. B. C. 536-456.— ABOUT EIGHTY 
YEARS. 

[Ezra was written in Hebrew, except chs. iv.-vii., which are 
in Chaldee, either because Ezra wished to record the very 
words of the letters and decrees contained in those chapters, 



i. c. 536. EZRA. 245 

or because the Jews had become during the Babylonian 
captivity better acquainted with the Chaldee than the He- 
brew.] 



ANALYSIS. 



Edict of Cyrus, 536. — First caravan of Jews under Zerubbabel and 
Jeshua. — Restoration of the sacrifices. — Foundation of the second 
temple laid, 535. — Samaritans retard the building, 534-530. — Death 
of Cyrus, 530. — Samaritans write to Ahasuerus (Cambyses) with- 
out effect, 529. — Artaxerxes (Smerdis Magus) prohibits the build- 
ing of the temple, 522. — Darius Hystaspis king; Haggai and Zech- 
ariah incite the Jews to recommence building, 520. — Darius con- 
firms the edict of Cyrus, 519. — Completion and dedication of the 
temple, 515. — State of the returned Jews. — (Death of Darius and 
reign of Xerxes, 485-465.) — Reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus, 
the Ahasuerus of Esther, 464-424. — Second caravan of the Jews 
under Ezra, 458. — Governorship of Ezra, 468-445. — Corrects the 
canon of Scripture ; dies. 

\ History of the high priesthood from Aaron to the return from 
captivity. 



SUMMARY. 



571. Edict of Cyrus, 536. — In the first year of the 
reign of Cyrus, the prophecies concerning his conquest of 
Babylon, made by Isaiah about one hundred and seventy 
years previous, were shown to him (probably by Daniel J : 
" Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose 
right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him ; 
and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the 
two-leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut,"* etc. 
Isa. xlv. 1 ; Jer. xxv. 12. Cyrus also saw himself called 
upon by name to restore the Jewish nation to their coun- 
try and temple : " Thus saith the Lord, I am the Lord 
that maketh all things; — that saith of Cyrus, lie is my 
shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure : even say- 

*" If therefore the Babylonians had been apprised beforehand, or 
had known what Cyrna was about, . . . they would have closed all 
the little gates leading down to the river; . . . whereas the Persians 
came upon them by surprise.'" — Herod., lib. i. c. 191. 

21 * 



246 EZRA I.-III. b. c. 536-530. 

ing to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built ; and to the temple, 
Thy foundation shall be laid." Isa. xliv. 24, 28. " Then 
the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus," and he proclaim- 
ed throughout his empire by a herald and by a written 
order that all the people of the God of heaven, without 
exception, had liberty to return to Judaea and rebuild 
their temple at Jerusalem. Ezra i. 1-4. 

572. First Caravan of Jews under Zernbbabel and 
Jeshua, 530. — Zerubbabel (Sheshbazzar), prince of 
Judah and grandson of King Jehoiachin, and Jeshua, 
grandson of Seraiah the high priest, together with ten of 
the principal elders, now prepared to conduct the Israel- 
ites to the land of their fathers. Accordingly, nearly 
50,000 people, consisting chiefly of the tribes of Judah 
and Benjamin, left the countries beyond the Euphrates 
to return to Judsea, having been furnished with provisions 
for the journey and upward of 8000 horses, camels, and 
beasts of burden. And 5400 of the vessels of silver and 
gold which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away were re- 
stored by Cyrus to Zerubbabel, who was appointed not 
only leader of the caravan, but tirshatha, or governor of 
Judsea. Ezra i. 5-11 ; ii. 

573. Restoration of the Sacrifices. — The journey 
from Babylon to Judaea must have lasted about four 
months, and in the seventh month the people gathered at 
Jerusalem, and Jeshua the high priest and the other 
priests set up the altar of burnt-offerings and commenced 
the daily sacrifices, and collected money and prepared 
workmen for rebuilding the temple. Ezra iii. 1-7. 

574. Foundation of the Second Temple laid, 535. 
— In the second month of the second year of the return 
of the Jews, Zerubbabel the governor, Jeshua the high 
priest, and all the priests, Levites, and people assembled 
to lay the foundation of the temple with great solemnity ; 
but whilst the young colonists shouted with exultation, 
the old priests and elders, who had seen the temple of 
Solomon in all its glory, could not forbear weeping even 
upon so joyful an occasion. Ezra iii. 8-13. 

575. Samaritans retard the Building, 534-530. 
— The Cuthseans and others whom Esarhaddon had sent 
to colonize Samaria (sect. 507) now desired to assist the 
Israelites in the building of the temple and join with 



B. c. 529-522. EZRA IV. 247 

them in the worship of God. This was refused by Zerub- 
babel and the elders, probably because the Samaritans 
were not of the seed of Abraham, and, moreover, mingled 
idolatry with the worship of Jehovah. The refusal great- 
ly incensed the Samaritans, and thereupon they used 
every exertion to stop the building ; and though they 
were unable to accomplish their object during the life of 
Cyrus, yet they threw so many obstacles in the way that 
the people were wearied out and the work went on heav- 
ily. This very naturally excited the enmity of the Jews, 
and thus there arose a hatred between the two nations 
which was continually increased by new provocations, 
and amongst others by the defection of Manasseh and 
the erection of a rival temple on Mount Gerizim, until 
at last all friendly intercourse entirely ceased. Ezra iv. 
1-4. 

576. Write to Ahasnerus (Cambyses) tvithout ef- 
fect, 529. — Cyrus died b. c. 530, and his son, Cambyses 
(called Ahasuerus by Ezra), succeeded to the throne. 
The Samaritans had already hired counsellors, who con- 
trived to frustrate the purpose of the Israelites from the 
reign of Cyrus to that of Darius, but they now thought 
to stop them more effectually by sending a letter of accu- 
sation against them to Ahasuerus (Cambyses), but no re- 
ply to it seems to have been sent. Ezra iv. 5, 6. — Herod., 
lib. ii. 1 ; iii. 1. 

577. Artaxerxes {Smerdis Magus) prohibits the 
Building of the Temple, 522. — Cambyses, after con- 
quering Egypt, was afflicted with insanity and killed his 
own brother, Smerdis, and at length died from a wound 
he received from the cap of the sheath of his sword fall- 
ing off as he was leaping on his horse, b. c. 522, after a 
reign of eight years. Smerdis Magus (called Artaxerxes 
in Ezra iv. 7) now personated the brother whom Cambyses 
had slain, and seized the throne ; and to him the Samari- 
tans again wrote, accusing the Jews of building (that is, 
fortifying) Jerusalem — which they never thought of do- 
ing — in order to revolt from paying tribute. Artaxerxes 
then prohibited the Jews from proceeding with the tem- 
ple, but his own fraud being discovered shortly after, he 
was slain by seven Persian nobles, having reigned only 
seven months. Ezra iv. 7-24. — Herod., lib. iii. l-o8, Gl— 79. 



248 EZRA V., VI. b. c. 520-515. 

578. Darius Hystaspis king; Haggai and Zecha- 
riah incite the Jews to recommence Building, 520. 

— Darius Hystaspis obtained the throne on the death of 
the Magi, b. c. 521 ; and in the second month of his reign 
the prophets Haggai and Zechariah appealed so power- 
fully to the governor, Zerubbabel, and the high priest, 
Jeshua, and to the whole people, that the building of the 
temple was once more resumed. Upon this Tatnai, the 
Persian governor west of the Euphrates, came with his 
officers to call the Jews to account for their conduct, but 
on their referring to the edict of Cyrus he did not pro- 
hibit the undertaking, but wrote to Darius to investigate 
the affair. Ezra v. — Herod., lib. iii. 88. 

579. Darius confirms the Edict of Cyrus, 519. — 
Darius immediately ordered a search to be made among 
the royal acts, and in the archives at Acmetha (Ecbatana) 
the edict of Cyrus was found which directed that the tem- 
ple should be built at the royal expense and of much larger 
dimensions. Darius sent a copy of this edict to Tatnai, 
with a letter commanding him to forward the building 
instead of obstructing it, and to defray the expenses from 
the royal treasury, and supply the priests with animals 
for sacrifice and with wheat, salt, wine, and oil; and 
whoever obstructed the execution of this decree w T as to 
be crucified and his house demolished. Ezra vi. 1-12. 

580. Completion and Dedication of the Temple, 
515. — The building of the temple was now carried on 
with renewed vigor, after having stood still for nearly 
fifteen years, and .was at length completed in the sixth 
(seventh) year of the reign of Darius, twenty-one years 
after it had been begun and seventy-three years after the 
complete destruction of Jerusalem and desolation of Judah. 
The building was then joyfully consecrated with festive 
solemnities ; seven hundred animals were sacrificed, and 
twelve he-goats offered as a sin-offering for the twelve 
tribes of Israel. Ezra vi. 13-22. 

581. State of the Returned Jews. — As offerings were 
made for the twelve tribes, and as the invitation of Cyrus 
was proclaimed throughout the whole empire, many of 
the ten tribes must have returned to Palestine. The his- 
tory of later periods also mentions several Israelites as 
settled in Galilee and Persea long before the time of 



B. c. 486-458. EZRA VI., VII. 249 

Christ (1 Mace. v. 9-24) ; but, connecting themselves 
with the tribe of Judah, they finally lost the name of 
Israelites, and all Hebrews were called Jews, and their 
country Judcea. But of the twenty-four courses of 
priests established by David (sect. 156, note), only four 
returned from Babylon, but the old number was still kept 
up by each of the four subdividing itself into six, and 
the new courses took the names of those that were 
wanting. Ezra ii. 36-39; vi. 17. 

582. Death of Darius, and Reign of Xerxes, 486- 
465. — Darius died after a reign of thirty-six years, and 
was succeeded by Xerxes, his son by Atossa, daughter of 
Cyrus.* The principal events in the reign of Darius were 
— the Babylonian revolt and retaking of the city by Zo- 
pyrus, the invasion of Scythia, conquest of Thrace, Ionian 
revolt and its suppression, battle of Marathon, and Egyp- 
tian revolt. The principal events in the reign of Xerxes 
were — the reduction of Egypt and invasion of Greece, 
which was followed by the battles of Artemisium, Ther- 
mopylae, Salamis, Platsea, and Mycale. Xerxes was slain, 
after a reign of twenty-one years, by Artabanus, captain 
of his guard, who endeavored to obtain the throne, but 
was circumvented by Artaxerxes Longimanus — i. e. " long- 
handed " — the third son of Xerxes. — Herod., lib. iii. c. 88- 
160; iv. ; ix. ; Prideavx; Jahn, c. lviii. 

583. Reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus, tlie Ahas- 
uerus^ of Esther, 465-424. — In the third year of his 
reign he divorced his queen, Vashti ; in the fifth year he 
made Esther his concubine ; in the seventh, he made her 
his queen. (See Esther.) 

584. Second Caravan of Jews under Ezra, 458. — 
In the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes the king 

*Jahn thinks, with Julius Scaliger, that the Artaxerxes in Ezra vii. 
and the Ahasuerus in Esther was the present Xerxes I. Moreover, the 
name of Amesfris, wife of Xerxes, favors the supposition that she was 
the same as Esther; but as it was impossible that Esther could have 
committed the impious and cruel acts ascribed to Amestris, we have 
followed the authority of Prideaux, who follows Josephus, and recog- 
nizes Artaxerxes and Ahasuerus in Artaxerxes Longimanus, the third 
son and successor of Xerxes. (See also T<d>le of Persian Kings, with 
their tinmen according to Scripture and Profane History, p. 257.) 

f This Ahasuerus must not be confounded with the Ahasuerus of 
Dan. ix. 1, who was the same as Aetyages, and the father of JJarius the 
Medc — i'. e. Cyaxares II. (See Tah/e, p 207. ) 



250 EZRA VII.-X. c. 458-445. 

renewed the edict of Cyrus and Darius Hystaspis, by 
giving fresh permission to the Hebrews to emigrate to 
Judaea. Artaxerxes also appointed Ezra the priest, " a 
ready scribe in the law of Moses" and a lineal descend- 
ant of Aaron, to conduct the people to their native land 
and be governor of Judaea, with a commission to appoint 
judges, rectify abuses, enforce observance of the law, and 
make a collection for the temple amongst the Hebrews 
who chose to remain in exile. To this collection Ar- 
taxerxes and his counsellors not only generously contrib- 
uted, but ordered the managers of the royal revenue west 
of the Euphrates to supply Ezra with all he should re- 
quire — with silver to one hundred talents, wheat to one 
hundred cors, wine and oil to one hundred baths of each, 
and salt without limitation — that the sacrifices might be 
legally and regularly offered ; whilst all the priests, Le- 
vites, singers, porters, and JSTethinim were exempted from 
tribute or toll, and thus placed on an equality with the 
Medes and Persians. The caravan, to the number of 
about 6000, under the conduct of Ezra, then departed 
from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and 
reached Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, 
after keeping a solemn fast at the river Ahava, and hav- 
ing been just four months on the journey. They then de- 
posited at the temple the donations they had received, 
including several vessels of gold and silver, and Ezra 
delivered his credentials to the royal officers of the dis- 
trict, and succeeded Zerubbabel in the governorship of 
the Jews. Ezra vii. ; viii. 

585. Governorship of Ezra, 458-445. — Ezra con- 
tinued to be governor of the Jews until the arrival of 
Nehemiah. His principal political measure seems to 
have been the removing of strange women from amongst 
the Jews, which he did by assembling and exhorting the 
people to repent and put away the foreign wives whom 
many of them had married. He also read the book of 
the Law to the people, and having found it written 
therein "that the children of Israel should dwell in 
booths in the feast of the seventh month," the people 
kept the feast of tabernacles and sat under booths, which 
they had not done since the days of Joshua the son of 
Nun. Ezra ix. ; x. ; Neh. viii. 



B. c. 445. EZRA X. 251 

586. Corrects the Canon of Scripture; Dies. — After 
governing the land twelve years, Nehemiah arrived in 
Judaea, and Ezra resigned his office, and either returned 
to Babylon or retired into private life to his own coun- 
try. It is believed that he then wrote the book of Ezra, 
assisted in compiling the books of the Chronicles, and ap- 
plied himself to correcting the canon of Scripture and 
placing the books in their present order and condition ; 
and some say that he changed the old Hebrew character 
for the Chaldee, which the Jews now use. Ezra is also 
said to have added in several places throughout the 
books of his edition of the Scriptures many passages that 
appeared necessary for the illustrating, connecting, or 
completing of them, wherein he was assisted by the same 
Spirit by which they had been at first written. Amongst 
these passages were — 1st, The last chapter of Deuteron- 
omy, which contains an account of the death and burial 
of Moses, who was, however, undoubtedly the author of 
all the rest of the Pentateuch. 2d, " And these are the 
kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there 
reigned any king over the land of Israel" (Gen. xxxvi. 
31); which could not have been said until there had been 
a king over Israel, and therefore could not have been 
written by Moses. 3d, " And the children of Israel did 
eat manna forty years " (Ex. xvi. 35) ; but Moses was 
dead before the manna ceased. 4th, "These are the 
Proverbs of Sojomon, which the men of Hezekiah, 
king of Judah, copied out" (Prov. xxv. 1); which must 
have been added many years after Solomon. Ezra also 
changed the old names of many places that had grown 
obsolete for the new names which had been given them 
by the Israelites. 

587. Ezra is said to have died in the one hundred and 
twentieth year of his age, and to have been buried in Je- 
rusalem, though some say that he died in Persia. He is 
also called Esdras, and the rabbins, with Jerome and 
others, have supposed that Ezra and Malachi were the 
same person. (See Prideaux, Calmet, etc.) 



252 THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD. b. c. 1491-536. 

History of the High Priesthood from Aaron to the Return 
from Captivity. 

1. Aaron, consecrated high priest b. c. 1491, 

died at Mount Hor 1452 

2. Eleazar, third son of Aaron 1433 

3. Phinehas 1414 

4. Abiezer or Abishua, ~\ 

5. Bukki, V lived under the judges. 

6. Uzzi, ) 

7. Eli, of the race of Ithamar 1116 

8. Ahittjb I. 

9. Ahiah, lived 1092 

10. Abimelech or Abiathar, slain by Saul . . 1060 

11. Abiathar, Ahimelech, or Abimelech (un- 

der David) 1015 

12. Zadok I. (under Saul, David, and Solomon) . 1004 

13. Ahimaaz (under Kehoboam) 974 

14. Azariah (under Jehoshaphat), probably Ama- 

riah of 2 Chron. xix. 11 912 

15. Johanan, perhaps Jehoiada, under Joash, 2 

Chron. xxiv. 15 (died, aged 130) .... 878 

16. Azariah, perhaps Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, 

killed 840 

17. Amariah, perhaps Azariah, under Uzziah . 783 

1 Q 7 TT ' f un( ^ er Jotham of Judah. 

20. Uriah, under Ahaz, lived ....... 739 

21. Shallum, father of Azariah and grandfather 

of Hilkiah. 

22. Azariah, in the time of Hezekiah .... 726 

23. Hilkiah, under Hezekiah. 

24. Eliakim, or Joakim, under Manasseh : he 

lived under Josiah to 624 — called Hilkiah. 

25. Azariah, perhaps Neriah, father of Seraiah 

and of Baruch. 

26. Seraiah, the last high priest before the cap- 

tivity of Babylon, put to death .... 590 

27. Jehozadak, during the captivity . . . 590-535 

28. Joshua, Jeshua, or Jesus, the son of Jehoza- 

dak or Josedech returned from Babylon . 536 



B.C. 445. NEHEMIAH I., II. 253 



NEHEMIAH. 

( Written by Nehemiah.) 

HISTORY OF THE GOVERNMENT OP NEHEMIAH, BEING A CONTINUATION TO 
THE HISTORY OF EZRA. B. C. 445 TO 420-ABOUT 25 YEARS. 

[In the Septuagint and Vulgate this book is called the Second 
Book of Ezra, or Esdras.] 



ANALYSIS. 



Nehemiah appointed governor of Judsea, 445. — Eebuilding of the 
walls and towers; opposition of Sanballat and the Samaritans. — 
Nehemiah's first administration, 444-433. — Nehemiah's second ad- 
ministration, 428-420. — Close of the Old Testament history, 420. 



SUMMARY. 



588. Nehemiah appointed Governor of tTudwa, 

445. — In the last year of Ezra's governorship, and the 
twentieth year of the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus, 
Nehemiah, son of Hechaliah, of the tribe of Judah, who 
was cup-bearer to Artaxerxes in his palace at Shusan 
(Susa) heard from Hanani and others full particulars of 
the desolate state of Jerusalem (which had perhaps sus- 
tained recent damage from the Samaritans, or from the 
war with Megabyzus, who had revolted in Syria and twice 
defeated the forces of Artaxerxes). This information so 
affected Nehemiah that the king observed his melancholy 
whilst being served with wine, and on learning that Ne- 
hemiah desired to go to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls, 
towers, and gates, he appointed him governor of Jud?ca, 
with full power to fortify Jerusalem. In compliance with 
a second request, Artaxerxes also gave him letters order- 
ing the royal officers west of the Euphrates to convey 
him to Judaea, and to furnish the requisite timber for the 
fortifications from the king's forest ; and Nehemiah ac- 
22 



254 NEHEMIAH II.-XIII. b. c. 445-420. 

cordingly journeyed to Jerusalem, accompanied by officers 
and guarded by cavalry. Neh. i. ; ii. 1-9. 

589. Rebuilding of the Walls and Towers ; ojypo- 
sition of Sanballat and the Samaritans, — On arriv- 
ing at Jerusalem, Nehemiah rode alone through the city 
at night, and found that the walls had been broken down 
and the gates burnt. He then exhorted the Jews to re- 
build the walls and gates, and the work was immediately 
commenced ; but Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Samaritans 
first mocked, and then threatened to attack the city and 
stop the progress of the building. Nehemiah, however, 
kept half of the workmen constantly on guard, whilst the 
other half labored with their swords at their sides or their 
weapons in their hands. When the Avails were all finished 
except the gate, Sanballat and others craftily invited 
Nehemiah to meet them in the villages, and afterward 
charged him with intending to rebel, and used means to 
terrify him ; which were all unsuccessful. At length, in 
fifty-two days, the whole was completed, and Nehemiah 
gave the charge of Jerusalem to his brother Hanani and 
to Hananiah, who were only to open the gates whilst the 
sun was hot, and to oblige the people to be continually on 
the watch. Neh. ii. 10-20 ; iii. ; iv. ; vi. ; vii. 1-4. 

590. NeliemiaWs First Administration, 445-433. 
— Nehemiah was tirshatha, or governor, for twelve years, 
during which he abolished illegal usury and obliged the 
usurers to make restitution, revised the registry, and en- 
joined on the priests and Levites a strict attendance to 
their duties. During all this time neither he nor his 
brothers were, like the former governors, chargeable to 
the people, but he kept at his table one hundred and fifty 
rulers and principal Jews daily, besides giving liberally 
to the public works and obliging his own servants to work 
at the walls. At the expiration of the twelve years he 
returned to Artaxerxes. Neh. v. ; vii. 5-73 ; ix.-xii. 

591. JYehemiah's Second Administration, cir. 428- 
420. — Nehemiah, having obtained fresh permission from 
Artaxerxes to return to Jerusalem, reformed the following 
abuses which had crept in during his absence: 1. The 
gross profanation of the temple by Eliashib the priest, 
who, having allied with Tobiah the Ammonite, prepared 
a chamber for him which had been set apart for tithes 



B.C. 461. ESTHER. 255 

and offerings. 2. The desecration of the Sabbath in car- 
rying burdens, treading wine-presses, and buying and sell- 
ing. 3. The unjust withholding of tithes. 4. Defective 
offerings. 5. The intermarrying with strange women. 
Nehemiah is said to have assisted Ezra in revising the 
canon of Scripture, and is thought to have written me- 
moirs of his government from which this book w T as ex- 
tracted. Neh. xiii. 

592. Close of Old Testament History, civ, 420, — 
Malachi prophesied about this time, and thus closes Old 
Testament history, for a continuation of which reference 
must be made to the Apocryphal books and Josephus. (See 
Connection between the Old and New Testaments?) 



ESTHER. 

(Avthor unknown.) 

ABOUT B. C. 461-451, A PF.IUOD OF ABOUT TEN YEARS, COMING IN BETTTEEN THE 
SIXTH AND SEVENTH CHAPTERS OF EZRA. 

593. Story of Esther, 461, — In the third year of the 
reign of Ahasnerus (i. e. Artaxerxes Longimanus), the 
king wished Queen Vashti to exhibit herself at a feast, 
which she refused to do, and Ahasuerus divorced her, and 
a number of women were brought to him that he might 
choose a wife in her room. Amongst them the king's at- 
tention was particularly directed to Esther (Hebrew, 
Hadassah), the niece of Mordecai, a Jew of the tribe of 
Benjamin, and he made her queen in the seventh year of 
his reign, without knowing her nation. Soon after this 
Mordecai discovered that two of the king's chamberlains 
had conspired to slay Ahasuerus, and on telling the matter 
to Esther, she reported it to the king in Mordccai's name, 
and the conspirators were hanged. At this time Hainan, 
a favorite of the king's took umbrage at Mordecai for not 
bowing to him as he passed, and persuaded Ahasuerus to 
issue a decree to destroy all the Jews on a certain day. 
Mordecai and the Jews were now in great tribulation, but 
contrived to send a copy of the decree to Esther, and per- 
suade her to supplicate the king in person, though, accord- 



256 ESTHER. b. c. 461. 

ing to the law, whoever entered the king's presence with- 
out being called was put to death unless the royal sceptre 
was extended toward them. Esther and the Jews now 
fasted for three days, when she entered the royal presence 
and obtained grace, but at first she merely invited the 
king and Haman to her banquet. Haman was then 
highly elated, but being again incensed at Mordecai's not 
bowing to him as he passed to the banquet, he ordered a 
gallows fifty cubits high to be built, intending next day 
to ask of the king the immediate death of Mordecai. The 
same night King Ahasuerus could not sleep, and ordered 
the chronicles of his reign to be read to him, when the 
conspiracy of the two chamberlains was related, and the 
king remembered that Mordecai had gone unrewarded for 
his loyalty in discovering their treason. Accordingly, 
when Haman came the next day he desired him to clothe 
Mordecai in royal apparel, place him on horseback, and 
lead him through the city, proclaiming, " Thus shall it be 
done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor." 
Haman obeyed the royal command, and then hasted home 
mourning ; but whilst his wife and friends were endeavor- 
ing to comfort him with the thought that as Mordecai was 
a Jew he must be slain with the others of his nation, the 
chamberlains of the palace came to fetch him to a second 
banquet which Esther had prepared for him and the king. 
Here Esther supplicated Ahasuerus for herself and people, 
and pointed out Haman as their enemy, who was imme- 
diately hanged upon the gallows which he made for Mor- 
decai, and the latter was invested with the command of 
Haman's house. The cruel decree was now reversed, and 
instead of the Jews being massacred in one day, they were 
themselves permitted for two days to slay all their ene- 
mies, including the household of Haman. 

594. Feast of Purim, — In order to commemorate 
their deliverance the Jews henceforth celebrated the 
Feast of Purim, or of Lots, on the fourteenth and fif- 
teenth days of the month Adar (February). It was called 
the Feast of Purim from Par, " a lot," because Haman 
had cast lots to decide the day on which the Jews should 
be massacred ; and the feast lasted two days, because the 
Jews had been permitted to destroy their enemies for two 
days. On this feast all the Jews attended at their syna- 



b. c. 709-330. KINGS OF MEDIA AND PERSIA. 



257 



gogues to hear the book of Esther read through and to 
curse Haman ; after which the time was spent in festivity 
at their own houses. 

Chronology of the Kings of Media and Persia, with their Names as 
given in Scripture and in Profane History, according to Dean 
Prideaux. 



Arphaxad, Judith i. 1 . . i. e. Deioces 
(Not mentioned in Scripture) . Phraortes 
(Not mentioned in Scripture) . Cyaxares I 
Ahasuerus, Dan. ix. 1 . . Astyages 
Darius the MEDE,Dan. vi., ix., xi. Cyaxares 



Cyrus, Dan. x. ; Ezra i. . 
Ahasuerus, Ezra iv. 6 . 
Artaxerxes, Ezra iv. 7-23 . 
Darius, Ezra iv. 24; vi. . 
(Not mentioned in Scripture) . 
Artaxerxes, Ezra vii. ; Neh. i. 
Ahasuerus, Esther, 



Cyrus . 

Cambyses 

Smerdis 



b. c. Reigned. 

709 53 yrs. 
656 22 " 
634 40 " 
594 35 " 
560 23*" 
537 7 " 
530 7 " 
522 7 mo. 



Darius Hystaspis 521 36 yrs. 
Xerxes . . 485 2 If" 
Artaxerxes 
longimanus 



464 41 



Subsequent Kings. 
Xerxes II . . . 

SoGDIANUS .... 

Darius II., Ocnus or Nothus . 
Artaxerxes II., or Mnemon . 
Artaxerxes III., or Ochus 

Arces 

Darius III., or Codomands 
Alexander the Great overthrew the Persian 
empire .... 



* This includes the two years that Darius reigned over Babylon, b. c. 
538. 

| Josephus nnd Jahn think he was the Artaxerxes of Ezra vii. and 
Nehemiah, and the Ahasuerus of Esther, but Prideaux has been followed 
in the present work, who recognizes this Artaxerxes and Ahasuerus in 
Artaxerxes Longiinanus. 

22* It 




B. C. 


Reigned. 


424 


45 days. 


424 


6 mo. 


423 


18 yrs. 


405 


46 " 


359 


21 « 


338 


2 " 


336 


6 « 


330 





258 job. 



B. c. 1520. 



THE FIVE 

POETICAL BOOKS, 

OR 

HOLY WRITINGS. 

[AriOS, "HOLY," AND TPA^E "A WRITING;" INCLUDING JOB, 
PSALMS, PROVERBS, ECCLESIASTES, AND SOLOMON'S SONG— 
CHIEFLY WRITTEN IN HEBREW METRE.— See Introduction.] 



JOB. 

(Supposed to have been written by Job and transcribed by Moses.) 



ANALYSIS. 



Chronology of the time of Job. — His country. — His condition 
and character. — Afflicted by Satan by divine permission. — Visited 
by his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. — Job and his 
three friends reproved by Elihu. — Jehovah appears to Job. — Job 
humbles himself and is restored to prosperity. — Prophetical inti- 
mations of the Messiah. 



SUMMARY. 



595. Clironology of the Time of Job. — Job is sup- 
posed by Usher to have lived about B.C. 1520, whilst 
Moses was residing in Midian, but the following circum- 
stances seem to place him much earlier : 1st. His lon- 
gevity, which was considerable, as he did not die until one 
hundred and forty years after his afflictions, and was prob- 
ably sixty or seventy years old when they commenced, for 
he had seven sons grown up and settled " in their houses." 
Job i. 4, 5. 2d. His speaking of the most ancient kind 



b. c. 1520. JOB I. 259 

of writing — by sculpture, xix. 24. 3d. His riches being 
reckoned by his cattle, xlii. 12. 4th. His acting as high 
priest in his family according to patriarchal usage. Gen. 
viii. 20. 5th. His allusions to Zabianism, or the worship 
of the sun and moon, which was the most ancient species 
of idolatry. Dr. Hales, moreover, fixes the time of Job's 
trial at about one hundred and eighty-four years before 
the birth of Abraham, and founds his opinion upon a 
retrograde astronomical calculation concerning the period 
when the principal stars referred to in Job ix. 9 and 
xxxviii. 31, 32, by the names of Chemah and Chesil, or 
Taurus and Scorpio, were the cardinal constellations of 
spring and autumn, as Pisces and Virgo are at present. 
All commentators and critics, however, are agreed that 
the poem of Job is the most ancient book in existence. 

596. His Country. — Job resided in the land of Uz, 
which was evidently Idumsea. Lam. iv. 21. Uz was the 
grandson of Seir the Horite (Gen. xxxvi. 20, 28), who 
inhabited Idumsea prior to Abraham, and the territory 
was then called Seir ; but his posterity being afterward 
expelled by the Idumseans or Edomites, the country was 
called Edom. Deut. ii. 12. There are two other men 
named Uz — the grandson of Shem and the son of Nahor, 
the brother of Abraham — but it is not clear whether any 
district was called after their names. 

597. His Condition and Character. — Job was an 
Arabian emir or prince of distinguished wealth and emi- 
nent piety. His sons were in the habit of feasting in 
each other's houses in turns, and when their feasts were 
concluded Job would always send and sanctify them, and 
offer burnt-offerings for each one early in the morning, 
for he said, " It may be that my sons have sinned and 
cursed God in their hearts." Job i. 1-5. 

598. Afflicted by Satan by Divine Permission. — 
Satan was permitted by God to afflict Job in order to try 
his virtue, but at first was not allowed to injure him per- 
sonally. The following calamities accordingly befell Job's 
property and family: 1st. A company of Sabseans carried 
off his oxen and asses, and slew all the servants save one, 
who escaped to tell the tale. 2d. A fire from heaven de- 
stroyed all his sheep and all his shepherds save one. 3d. 
The Chaldeans carried off his camels, and killed all the 



260 job i. 



c. 1520. 



servants with them save one. 4th. Whilst his seven sons 
and three daughters were feasting in their eldest brother's 
house a violent wind blew down the house and crushed 
them beneath its ruins. These disasters occurred almost 
simultaneously, for each successive bearer of the sad 
tidings reached Job whilst his predecessor was yet speak- 
ing ; but Job resisted the temptation to repine, and said, 
" The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed 
be the name of the Lord !" Satan was now suffered to 
afflict Job's person without taking his life, and accord- 
ingly smote him with sore boils from the sole of his foot 
to his crown, and his wife prompted him to curse God 
and die; but Job replied, "Shall we receive good at 
the hand of God, and not receive evil?" Job i. 6-22; 
ii. 1-10. 

599. Visited by his tJiree Friends, Eliphaz, Sil- 
dad 9 and Zophar. — Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the 
Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite now agreed to visit 
Job and mourn and condole with him, but when they 
saw his afflictions they sat down by him without speak- 
ing for seven days and nights. The grief of Job then 
burst forth in passionate exclamations and a vehement 
execration of the day of his birth, and his patience was 
now more exquisitely tried by the unjust suspicions, bitter 
reproaches, and violent altercations of his friends. The 
latter concluded that Job's afflictions were the expressions 
of the divine displeasure on account of some heinous and 
secret transgressions ; and accordingly they reproved him 
for his impatience, called in question his integrity, ad- 
monished him that the chastisement of God was not to be 
despised, and upbraided him with arrogance and false- 
hood for presuming to defend himself against their accu- 
sations. Moreover they all, with a manifest though indi- 
rect allusion to Job, discoursed very copiously concerning 
the divine judgments, which are always openly displayed 
against the wicked, and of the certain destruction of hypo- 
critical pretenders to virtue and religion. Job replied to 
this by enumerating his sufferings and complaining bit- 
terly of the inhumanity of his friends and severity of 
God. This only irritated his visitors the more, and they 
severely reproached him with pride, impiety, passion, and 
madness. A vehement discussion then followed on the 



B. c. 1520. JOB II.-XXXVII. 261 

power of the Almighty and the justice of his decrees, in 
which the weapons of satire and ridicule w 7 ere mingled 
with those of reason and argument, and in which Job 
answered the fierce accusations of his three friends by 
animated and confident appeals to the tribunal of God 
himself. The three friends then remained silent, and Job 
expressed the true sentiments of his heart concerning the 
fate of the wicked, and allowed that their prosperity was 
unstable, and that they and their descendants would at 
last experience that God w 7 as the avenger of iniquity ; 
but he contended that the divine counsels do not admit 
of human investigation, and that the chief wisdom of 
man consisted in the fear of God. He then beautifully 
descanted upon his former prosperity, and contrasted it 
with his present affliction and debasement ; and lastly, in 
answer to the implications of his opponents, he related 
the principal transactions of his past life, asserted his 
integrity as displayed in all the duties of life and in the 
sight of God and man, and again appealed to the justice 
and omniscience of the Almighty in attestation of his 
veracity. Job ii. 11-13; iii.-xxxi. 

600. Job and his three Friends reproved by JEliJiu, 
— Elihu the Buzite, a young man, now came forward and 
rebuked Job and his three friends. He declared that it 
was unnecessary for God to explain and develop his coun- 
sels to men, though he nevertheless admonished them by 
visions and revelations, and by calamities and diseases, to 
reprove their arrogance and reform their obduracy ; and 
he reproved Job for pronouncing himself to be upright 
and for affirming that God had acted unjustly toward 
him. He then refuted the unjust suspicions of Job's 
friends, and declared that God often chastened men be- 
cause they did not confide in him or humbly submit to 
his will ; and concluded with a grand description of the 
omnipotence of the Creator. Job xxxii.-xxxvii. 

601. Jehovah appears to Job. — Jehovah himself 
now appeared in a whirlwind and addressed Job in a 
sublime speech, in which he disdained to explain his di- 
vine counsels, but reproved the temerity of Job by con- 
victing him of ignorance in being unable to comprehend 
the works of his creation — the nature and structure of 
the earth, the sea, the light, and the animal kingdom ; 



262 PSALMS. 

and then demonstrated his weakness by challenging him 
to emulate any single exertion of the divine energy, or 
even to contend with various animals of the brute crea- 
tion which are particularly mentioned. Job xxxviii.-xli. 

602. Job humbles himself, and is restored to Pros- 
perity. — Job now humbled himself before God, and ac- 
knowledged his own ignorance and imbecility, and re- 
pented in dust and ashes. His three friends had also 
incurred the anger of God, and were required to sacrifice 
seven bullocks and seven rams for a burnt-offering, and 
to go to Job, who then prayed and interceded for them. 
Job was afterward greatly blessed by God ; he had again 
seven sons and three daughters, and his possessions and 
cattle were doubled. Job xlii. 

603. Prophetical Intimation of the Messiah. — 
There is an important intimation of the Messiah in this 
book, which may be regarded both as a prophecy and as 
a profession of faith on the part of Job in a promised Ee- 
deemer : 

" For I know that my Redeemer liveth, 
And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." 

Job xix. 25. 



PSALMS. 

AUTHORSHIP.— SUBJECTS.— CLASSIFICATION.— MEANING OF THE 
WORD "SELAH." 

604. Authorship. — The book of Psalms contains one 
hundred and fifty lyric poems, generally supposed to have 
been written by Moses, David, Solomon, Asaph, He- 
man, Ethan, Jeduthun, and the three sons of Korah ; 
others have been ascribed to Adam, Melchizedek, etc., 
but without authority. As they have been more particu- 
larly attributed to David, and he is thought to have col- 
lected those written previously into a book, they are called 
" the Psalms of David," and he himself has been styled 
the "royal Psalmist." 

605. Subjects. — The Psalms are said by Athanasius 
to be an epitome of the whole Scriptures ; by Basil, to 
be a compendium of all theology ; by Luther, to be a 



PROVERBS. 263 

little Bible and the summary of the Old Testament ; and 
by Melanchthon, to be the most elegant writing in the 
whole world. According to Bishop Home, they are an 
epitome of the Bible, adapted to the purposes of devotion, 
and treat occasionally of the creation and formation of the 
world ; the dispensations of providence and the economy 
of grace ; the transactions of the patriarchs ; the exodus 
of the children of Israel ; their journey through the wil- 
derness and settlement in Canaan ; their law, priesthood, 
and ritual ; the exploits of their great men wrought 
through faith ; their sins and captivities ; their repent- 
ances and restorations ; the sufferings and victories of 
David ; the peaceful and happy reign of Solomon ; the 
advent of the Messiah, with its effects and consequences, 
his incarnation, birth, life, passion, death, resurrection, 
ascension, kingdom, and priesthood ; the effusion of the 
Spirit ; the conversion of the Jews ; the establishment, 
increase, and perpetuity of the Christian Church ; the 
end of the world ; the general judgment ; the condemna- 
tion of the wicked ; and the final triumph of the right- 
eous with their Lord and King. 

606. Classification. — The Psalms are generally di- 
vided into five books. Book I. begins with Ps. i. ; Book 
II., with Ps. xlii. ; Book III., with Ps. lxxiii. ; Book IV., 
with Ps. xc. ; and Book V., with Ps. cvii. The first four 
books terminate with " Amen," and the last with " Hal- 
lelujah." 

607. Selah. — This word occurs seventy times in the 
Psalms and three times in Habakkuk. It has been sup- 
posed by some to signify a rest or change in the song or 
modulation ; by others, to be equivalent to our word 
"slow;" and by others, to mean a repeat, or "Amen," 
or "the end." 



PROVERBS. 

Written chiefly by Solomon.) 



608. Authorship and Scope. — The book of Proverbs 
was written chiefly by Solomon, and probably included 
a selection from the 3000 proverbs which he composed. 



264 ECCLESIASTES. 

1 Kings iv. 32. Its object is to instruct men in the 
deepest mysteries of true wisdom and understanding, 
the height and perfection of which is the sincere fear 
of the Lord. The book is thus filled with the choicest 
sententious aphorisms, infinitely surpassing all the ethi- 
cal sayings of the ancient sages, and comprising in 
themselves distinct doctrines, duties, and rules of piety 
toward God, of equity and benevolence in dealings with 
the world, and of sobriety and temperance in the gov- 
ernment of self. It likewise includes precepts for the 
right education of children, and for the relative situa- 
tion of subjects, magistrates, and sovereigns. 



ECCLESIASTES. 

(EnK.'heciaaTqs, "a preacher" — Written by Solomon.) 

609. Authorship and Scope. — The beautiful descrip- 
tions which this book contains of the phenomena in the 
natural world and the economy of the human frame 
prove it to have been the work of a philosopher; ac- 
cordingly, it is generally supposed to have been written 
by Solomon in his old age, when he had repented of his 
sin and folly, and, having drained the cup of pleasure to 
its dregs, had become fully convinced of the vanity of 
everything except piety toward God. 

610. The scope of this book is to demonstrate the van- 
ity of all earthly objects, and to draw off men from pur- 
suing them as an apparent good, and direct them to the 
highest and only permanent good in this life — namely, to 
the fear of God and communion with him. The object 
of the Preacher's inquiry is, therefore, What is the Sov- 
ereign good of man ? and after discussing various erro- 
neous opinions, he finally determines that it consists in 
true wisdom ; and his whole argument then consists in 
the praise and recommendation of wisdom as the su- 
preme good to creatures responsible for their actions. In 
this wisdom is not included a single particle of that which 
is worldly and carnal, so frequently pursued by men ad- 



SONG OF SOLOMON. 265 

dieted to vice, the minions of avarice, and the slaves of 
their passions ; but that which is from above, that which 
is holy, spiritual, undefiled, and which, in the writings of 
Solomon, is but another word for religion. 



SONG OF SOLOMON. 

( Written by Solomon.) 

611. Subject and Meaning. — This nuptial song or 
lyrical drama is supposed to have been included in the 
1005 songs of Solomon mentioned in 1 Kings iv. 32. It 
is of a pastoral character, and has been divided into seven 
parts, according to the seven days of the marriage-feast 
amongst the Jews ; but some critics have regarded it as 
a series of poems or idyls, each distinct and independent 
of the other. 

612. The subject of this beautiful composition is sup- 
posed to have been the marriage of Solomon with Pha- 
raoh's daughter, though Home and others think that the 
bride must have been of Hebrew origin, as she declares 
herself to be a native of Sharon, which was a canton 
of Palestine. Cant. ii. 1. But all ages seem to have de- 
termined that this marriage afforded the veil of a sub- 
lime and mystical allegory, delineating the bridal union 
between Jehovah and his pure and uncorrupted Church. 
God had selected a peculiar people, of the posterity of 
Abraham, from among the nations, and ratified his 
choice by a solemn compact which was founded upon 
reciprocal conditions — on the one part, love, protection, 
and support ; on the other, faith, obedience, and pure 
and devout worship. This solemn union between God 
and his Church has been celebrated by almost all the 
sacred writers under a similar image ; the word adultery 
has denoted idolatrous worship, and our Lord himself 
has adopted the title of Bridegroom (Matt. ix. 15; xxv. 
1); and the Lamb's spouse — i. e. the Church — is rep- 
resented as a bride adorned for her husband. Bev. xxi. 
2,9. 

23 



THE 



SIXTEEN PROPHETICAL BOOKS. 



[There are sixteen Prophetical authors and seventeen Pro- 
phetical Books, but the latter are only calculated at sixteen, 
as the Lamentations of Jeremiah are considered as a sup- 
plement to his Prophecies. 

The prophetical Authors are divided into two classes — viz. 
I. The Four Greater Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Eze- 
kiel, and Daniel. II. The Twelve Minor Prophets, 
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habak- 
kuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.] 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE 



OF THE PROBABLE PERIODS IN WHICH THE PROPHETS FLOURISHED. 

[The Greater Prophets are in bold letters.] 



I. Before the Captivity. 



Prophets. 
1 Jonah . 



2. Amos . 

3. Hosea 

4. Isaiah . 



5. Joel . . 

6. Micah 

7. Nahum . 

8. Zephaniah 

9. Jeremiah 



266 



B. C. 

856-784. 



JUDAH. 



810-785. Uzziah. 

810-725. Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, 

and Hezekiah. 
758-698. Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, 

Hezekiah, and Ma- 

nasseh. 



810-660, Uzziah or Manasseh. 

or later. 

758-699. Jotham, Ahaz, and 
Hezekiah. 

720-698. Hezekiah. 

640-609. Josiah. 

628-586. Josiah, Jehoahaz. Je- 
hoiakim, Jehoia- 
chin, and Zedekiah. 



Israel. 

Jehu and Jehoahaz, 
or Joash and Je- 
roboam II. 

Jeroboam II. 

Jeroboam II. 

Jeroboam II., Zecha- 
riah, Shallum, Me- 
nahem, Pekahiah, 
Pekah, and Ho- 
shea. 

Ditto. 

Pekah and Hoshea. 



b. c. 758-698. ISAIAH. 267 

II. During the Captivity. 
Prophets. b. c. Judah. 

10. Habakkuk 612-598. Jehoiakim. 

1 1. Daniel . . 606-534. During the whole of the Captivity. 

12. Obadiah . 588-583. Between the taking of Jerusalem by Ne- 

buchadnezzar and his destruction of the 
Edomites. 

1 3. Ezekiel . 595-536. During part of the Captivity. 

III. After the Captivity. 

14. Haggai . 520-418, Under Zerubbabel, after the return from 

or longer. captivity. 

15. Zechariah 520-548, Ditto. 

or longer. 

16. Malachi 436-420. Nehemiah. 



THE 

FOUR GREATER PROPHETS. 

X, Isaiah — his life and period, cir. 758-698. — Scope of his 
prophecies. — Principal subjects. — Prophecies of the Messiah. 

II, Jeremiah — his life and period, cir. 628-586. — Subjects 
of his prophecies. — Book of Lamentations. 

III, Ezekiel — his life and prophecies, 595-536. 

IV, Daniel— his early life, cir. 626-606. — Interprets Ne- 
buchadnezzar's first dream : the image of four empires, cir. 603. — 
Nebuchadnezzar sets up a golden image, cir. 580. — His second 
dream: the tree, 570; his madness, cir. 569-563. — Daniel's vision 
of four beasts, 555. — Vision of the ram and he-goat, 553. — Bel- 
shazzar's feast and death, 538. — Daniel in the lion's den, 538. — 
Foretells the exact time of the coming and death of the Messiah, 
538. — His other prophecies. 

I. ISAIAH. 

613. Life and Period of Isaiah, cir, 75S-69S, — 

Isaiah was the son of Amoz, and nourished during the 
reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and is said to 
have been martyred by being sawn asunder in the first 
year of Manasseh's reign. According to the lowest com- 
putation, and reckoning from the last year of Uzziah's 
reign to the first of Manasseh's, he must have prophesied 
during b. c. 758-698, about sixty years. At the beginning 
of this period both the kingdoms of Judah and Israel 



268 ISAIAH. b. c. 758-698. 

were in a most flourishing condition ; Judah had con- 
quered the Philistines, made the Ammonites tributary, and 
subdued some Arabian tribes in Arabia Deserta, whilst 
Israel had recovered the Trans- Jordanic territory from 
Benhadad and conquered Damascus and Hamath. But 
Isaiah lived to see idolatry established in Judah and 
Israel carried into Assyrian captivity. 

614. Scope of his Prophecies. — The scope of Isaiah's 
predictions is threefold : 

1. To detect, reprove, aggravate, and condemn the sins of 
the Jews especially, and also the iniquities of the ten tribes 
of Israel and the abominations of the Gentiles. 

2. To invite both Jews and Gentiles to repentance and 
reformation by numerous promises of God's pardon and 
mercy. 

3. To prophesy the coming of the Messiah, which he does 
so much more clearly and copiously than any other 
prophet that he has been emphatically styled the " Evan- 
gelical Prophet." 

615. Principal Subjects. — The chief subjects of Isa- 
iah's prophecies are : 

1. The captivities and restoration of Judah and Israel. 
xxxix. 6, 7. 

2. The ruin and desolation of Babylon, Tyre, Damas- 
cus, Egypt, etc., and the destruction of Syria and Israel 
for confederating against Judah ; Syria being designated 
by its chief city, Damascus, and Israel by its chief city, 
Ephraim. vii. 1, 2; xlvii. 7, 15. This was afterward 
accomplished by Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, viii. 4, 
and sect. 493. 

3. The conquests and conduct of Cyrus, who is men- 
tioned by name, and his relieving the Jews, nearly two 
hundred years before his birth, xliv. 28 ; xlvi. 1-5. 

4. The prophecies concerning the Messiah — viz. : 

1. His divine character, vi. ; vii. 14; ix. 6; xxxv. 4; 
xl. 5, 9, 10 ; xlii. 6-8 ; lxi. 1. 

2. His miracles, xxxv. 5, 6. 

3. His peculiar virtues and qualities, ix. 2, 3; xl. 11; 
xliii. 1-3. 

4. His rejection, vi. 9-12; viii. 14, 15; liii. 3. 

5. His sufferings for our sins. 1. 6 ; liii. 4-11. 

6. His death and burial, liii. 8, 9. 



b. c. 758-698. ISAIAH. 269 

7. His victory over death, xxv. 8 ; liii. 1 0-1 2. 

8. His final glory, xlix. 7, 22, 23; lii. 13-15; liii. 

9. The establishment, increase, and perfection of his 
kingdom, ii. 2-4; ix. 2, 7; xi. 4-10; xvi. 5; xxix. 18- 
24; xxxii. 1; xl. 4, 5; xlii. 4; xlvi. 13; xlix. 9-13; li. 
3-6; lii. 6-10; lv. 1-3; lix. 16-21; lx. ; lxi. 1-5; lxv. 
25.* 

616. Prophecies of the Messiah. — The principal 
prophecies of Isaiah in reference to the Messiah are the 
following : 



* The grandest specimen of Isaiah's poetry is presented in the four- 
teenth chapter of his book, which is one of the sublimest odes occurring 
in the Bible and contains the noblest personifications. 

The prophet first predicts the liberation of the Jews from their Baby- 
lonian captivity and their restoration to Judaea (ver. 1-3), and then in- 
troduces a chorus of Jews, who express their surprise and astonishment 
at the downfall of Babylon and overthrow of her king. The nations 
whom the king of Babylon had oppressed are represented under the 
image of fir trees and cedars of Libanus, who, whilst the whole earth 
shouts for joy, taunt the fallen tyrant and boast their security now he 
is no more. ver. 4—8. Hades, or the regions of the dead, is now per- 
sonified, ver. 9. Hades excites his inhabitants — the shades of princes 
and the departed spirits of monarchs — who rise from their couches as 
from their thrones, and, meeting the king of Babylon at the entrance 
of their cavern, they insult and deride him on his impotence and 
dissolution, ver. 10, 11. The Jews now resume the speech (ver. 12); 
they address the king of Babylon as the morning-star fallen from 
heaven, and contrast his extravagant vaunts with his present low and 
abject condition, ver. 13-15. A new scene immediately follows, which 
diversifies the subject and gives it a new turn and additional force. 
Certain persons are introduced who light upon the corpse of the king 
of Babylon, lying, naked and covered with wounds, upon the bare 
ground and among the common slain, just after the taking of the city, 
upon which they severely taunt the tyrant, and bitterly reproach him 
with his destructive ambition and cruel usage, ver. 10-20. To complete 
the whole, God is introduced, declaring the fate of Babylon, the utter 
extirpation of the royal family, and the total desolation of the city, the 
deliverance of his people, and the desolation of their enemies : confirm- 
ing the irreversible decree by the awful sanction of his oath. ver. 21-27. 

" How forcible," says Bishop Lowth, "is this imagery! how diversi- 
fied ! how sublime ! how elevated the diction, the figures, the senti- 
ments ! The Jewish nation, the cedars of Lebanon, the ghosts of de- 
parted kings, the Babylonish monarch, the travellers who find his 
corpse, and, last of all, JEHOVAH himself, arc the characters which sup- 
port this beautiful lyrical drama. . . . There is nothing wanting in 
this ode to defeat its claim to the character of perfect beauty and sub- 
limity, nor do I know a single instance in the whole compass of Greek 
and Roman poetry which in every excellence of composition can be said 
to equal or even to approach it" — Lowth, Jahn, and Home. 

23* 



270 ISAIAH. b. c. 758-698. 

1. His Forerunner. 

" The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, 
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, 
Make straight, in the desert a highway for our God." ch. xl. 3. 

2. His Birth. 

11 Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, 
And shall call his name Immanuel." ch. vii. 14. 

3. His Family. 

"And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, 
Which shall stand for an ensign of the people; 
To it shall the Gentiles seek : 
And his rest shall be glorious." ch. xi. 10. 

4. His Name and Kingdom. 

"For unto us a child is born, 
Unto us a son is given : 

And the government shall be upon his shoulder: 
And his name shall be called 
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, 
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no 

end, 
Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom ; 
To order it, and to establish it 

With judgment and with justice, from henceforth even for ever." 
ch. ix. 6, 7. 

5. Rejection by the Jews. 

" And he shall be for a sanctuary ; 
But for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence 
To both the houses of Israel, 

For a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem." ch. 
viii. 14. 

6. Accepted by the Gentiles. 

" I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, 

That thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth." 
i ch. xlix. 6. 

7. His Miracles. 

"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, 
And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, 
And the tongue of the dumb sing." ch. xxxv. 5, 6. 



B. c. 628-586. JEREMIAH. 271 



II. JEREMIAH. 

617. Life and Period of Jeremiah, civ. 628-586. 

— Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, was of sacerdotal race and a 
native of Anathoth, a city set apart for the priests in the 
tribe of Benjamin. He began to prophesy when very 
young, and continued for about forty-two years, reckon- 
ing from the thirteenth year of Josiah's reign. During 
the reign of Josiah he reproved the Jews for their wicked- 
ness and hypocrisy ; and in the latter part of the reign, 
when they seem to have forgotten the solemn covenant 
they had made with God in Josiah's youth, he sharply 
rebuked them for their disobedience, and predicted the 
Babylonian captivity as the punishment for their univer- 
sal and incorrigible depravity (sect. 534). During the 
following reigns the roll of his prophecies was publicly 
read by Baruch, but one copy was burnt by Jehoiakim, 
and Jeremiah narrowly escaped death. In Zedekiah's 
reign the prophet was consulted by the king and im- 
prisoned by the nobles ; but he was afterward released by 
Nebuchadnezzar at the taking of the city, and remained 
in Judaea whilst Gedaliah was governor. After the mur- 
der of Gedaliah by Ishmael, Jeremiah followed the rem- 
nant of the Jews to Egypt, where it is said he was stoned 
by his countrymen for his faithful remonstrances against 
their idolatrous practices. Others, however, say that he 
returned and died in Judaea ; and others, that he died at 
Babylon. 

618. Subjects of his Prophecies. — The principal sub- 
jects of Jeremiah's prophecies are — 1. The fates of Je- 
hoiakim and Zedekiah. xxii. ; xxxiv. 2. The divine 
judgments against Judah. ii.-xx., etc. 3. The Babylo- 
nian captivity, the precise time of its duration, and the 
return of the Jews, xxiii. ; xxv. 4. The destruction of 
Babylon and downfall of Persia, Egypt, Philistia, Tyre, 
Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, etc. xlvi. ; xlix. 5. The 
miraculous conception of the Messiah, the virtue of his 
atonement, his covenant, and his laws. xxxi. ; xxxii. 

619. Book of Lamentations. — Besides his prophecies, 
Jeremiah composed the "Book of Lamentations," which 
consists of five distinct elegies of twenty-two periods each, 
according to the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alpha- 



272 EZEKIEL. b. c. 595-536. 

bet. The following calamities are deplored : viz. the im- 
positions of the false prophets who had seduced the people 
by their lying declarations, the destruction of the holy 
city and temple, the overthrow of the state, and the ex- 
termination of the people. 

III. EZEKIEL. 

620. Life and Prophecies of Ezekiel, 595-536.— 

Ezekiel, son of Buzi, and, like Jeremiah, of the sacer- 
dotal race, was carried away captive with Jehoiachin, 
B. c. 599, and prophesied twenty years, commencing in 
the fifth year of his captivity and the thirtieth from the 
renewal of the covenant with God in the reign of Josiah. 
Whilst Ezekiel was among the captives on the river Che- 
bar — which flows into the Euphrates about two hundred 
miles north of Babylon — the Lord appeared to him in a 
vision on a throne borne by four cherubim supported by 
four wheels, and commanded him to shut himself up in 
his house. Whilst thus confined he represented the siege 
of Jerusalem on a tile or slate, and lay on his left side 
three hundred and ninety days, and on his right side forty 
days, to prefigure the number of years (three hundred and 
ninety) during which God endured the idolatry of the 
tex tribes, and the years (forty) during which he bore 
with the sins of Judah from the solemn renewal of the 
covenant with Jehovah to the destruction of Jerusalem. 
During this period his food was to be polluted and limited 
in quantity, to represent the severity of the famine during 
the actual siege, iii.-v. After this Ezekiel was carried in 
spirit to Jerusalem, where he beheld the idolatry of the 
people (viii.); and the principal subjects of his prophecies 
are — the calamities of Judaea, the conquest and downfall 
of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Philistines, and 
of Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt (xxv.-xxviii.), the deliverance 
of the Jews under Cyrus, and their final return from 
their dispersion (xxxix.), together with clear intimations 
of the coming of the Messiah, xxxiv. 

IV. DANIEL. 

621. Early Life of Daniel, cir. 026-606.— The 

prophet Daniel belonged to the tribe of Judah, and was 



B. c. 603. DANIEL. 273 

of royal descent. In b. c. 606, being the fourth year of 
Jehoiakim's reign, Nebuchadnezzar took Jerusalem (sect. 
537), and carried off hostages, amongst whom were Daniel, 
who was then about twenty years old, with Hananiah, 
Mishael, and Azariah. The hostages, being brought to 
Babylon, were educated in the palace, and Daniel was 
called Belteshazzar, and the three others Shadrach, Me- 
shach, and Abednego. These four afterward lived on pulse 
and water, and not on the king's wine and meat, as it was 
proved, after ten days' trial, that their countenances were 
not injured by the poorness of their diet. They then 
became rapidly renowned for their wisdom and rise in the 
king's favor. Dan. i. 

622. Interprets Nebuehadnezzar' s First Dream 
— the Image of Four Fmpires, dr. 60S. — In the 
third year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, about b. c. 603* or 
601, the king had a troublous dream, but forgot its de- 
tails, and ordered his magicians to both tell it and in- 
terpret it, with promises of rewards if they succeeded, but 
of death and destruction if they failed. The magicians 
excused themselves in vain, and were condemned, when 
Daniel, having with his three companions prayed to God, 
was favored by the Almighty with a revelation of the 
secret, and being taken into the king's presence he told 
and interpreted the dream, which was as follows : Neb- 
uchadnezzar had seen a bright and terrible image, with 
head of fine gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and 
thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet partly of iron and 
partly of clay ; when a stone cut out without hands dashed 
it to pieces, and it became like chaff scattered in the 
wind, but the stone became a great mountain and filled 
the whole earth. 

Daniel then told Nebuchadnezzar that he (the Babylo- 
nian kingdom) was the head of gold ; that a second king- 
dom, of silver, (Medo-Persian, under Cyrus) should rise up 
after him ; that a third, of brass (the Macedonian, under 
Alexander), should rule over the earth ; that a fourth, of 
iron (the Roman commonwealth and first part of the 
empire), should break and subdue like iron; and that a 



:;: Prideaux says n. c. 601, which is apparently the most correct date, 
us Nebuchadnezzar began to reign alone about b. C. 604. 



274 DANIEL. b. c. 580-555. 

fifth, of iron and potter's clay (the Roman empire divi- 
ded), should be partly strong and partly broken. Daniel 
then interpreted the stone cut out without hands to signify 
the kingdom which God should set up (the kingdom of 
Christ), which should never be destroyed, but should over- 
throw the nations and fill the whole earth. Nebuchad- 
nezzar then rewarded Daniel and made him ruler over 
the province of Babylon. Dan. ii. 

623. Nebuchadnezzar sets up a Golden Image, cir. 
580. — Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image, sixty cu- 
bits high, in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon, 
and commanded all his subjects to worship it on penalty 
of being thrown into a furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abednego refused compliance ; the furnace was heated 
seven times its usual heat, and the three Jews were thrown 
in; but a form "like the Son of God" delivered them, 
whilst they who threw them in were consumed. Nebu- 
chadnezzar then blessed God, and issued a decree threaten- 
ing death to any one who should malign the three Jews, 
whom he then promoted in the province of Babylon. 
Dan. iii. 

624. Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream — the Tree, 
cir. 570 : Jiis Madness, cir. 569-563. — Nebuchadnez- 
zar about b. c. 570 dreamed that he saw a tall and spread- 
ing tree, when a watcher and holy one came down from 
heaven and cried, Hew it down, but leave his stumps in 
the earth with a band of iron and brass, and let his por- 
tion be with the beasts, and his heart be changed from 
man's to a beast's for seven times (years). Daniel inter- 
preted this to signify that Nebuchadnezzar should lose his 
understanding, and be driven from men and dwell with 
beasts for seven years. 

The next year, b. c. 569, Nebuchadnezzar was vaunting 
his power in his palace at Babylon, when the dream was 
fulfilled (b. c. 569-563) ; but at the end of seven years he 
lifted up his eyes, his understanding returned, and he 
praised, extolled, and honored the God of heaven. Dan. iv. 

625. Daniel's Vision of Four Beasts, 555. — Neb- 
uchadnezzar died, and his son Evilmerodach, his son-in- 
law Neriglissor, and Laborasoarchod, son of Neri- 
glissor, reigned in succession after him. (See sect. 562.) At 
length (b. c. bbb) Belshazzar, grandson of Nebuchadnez- 



B. c. 553-538. DANIEL. 275 

zar, ascended the throne, and in the first year of his reign 
Daniel had a vision of four beasts: 1st. A lion with 
eagle's wings (Babylon) ; and its wings were plucked and 
it stood like a man (was checked by the armies of Cyrus, 
Darius, or Cyaxares). 2d. A bear (Persia), with three 
ribs in its mouth (Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt). 3d. A 
leopard, with four fowl's wings and four heads (Alexan- 
der the Great and his four successors). 4th. A terrible 
beast, with iron teeth and brazen nails (Roman empire) 
and ten horns (ten kingdoms, variously enumerated) ; and 
a little horn rose amongst them with eyes and mouth 
speaking great things (Antichrist, the Papacy), which 
plucked up three of the first horns. Daniel then beheld 
the thrones cast down, and the Ancient of Days sitting, 
the judgment set, and the books opened ; and one like the 
Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and power 
was given him over all nations, an everlasting dominion, 
and a kingdom which could not be destroyed. 

One that stood by then told Daniel that the four beasts 
were four kingdoms, and that the little horn would war 
upon the saints until the Ancient of Days came, when 
the Most High would have everlasting dominion and the 
saints possess the kingdom. Dan. vii. — Lowth and Home. 

626. Vision of the Mam and He-goat, 553. — In 
the third year of Belshazzar's reign Daniel saw a vision 
of a ram with two horns (Medo-Persian empire), which 
was crushed by a he-goat with one horn (Macedo-Grecians 
under Alexander) ; the he-goat increased in power, and 
his one horn was fractured, and succeeded by four horns 
(Greece, Thrace, Syria, and Egypt). A little horn arose 
amongst the four horns (the Romans, who reduced Jeru- 
salem to that desolation which was to last for 2300 pro- 
phetic days — i. e. years, ver. 14). Dan. viii. — Lowth and 
Home. 

627. Belshazzar's Feast and Death, 5,38. — Bel- 
shazzar made a feast to 1000 of his lords, and profaned 
the sacred vessels which Nebuchadnezzar had brought 
from Jerusalem, when a hand wrote upon the wall, and 
none of the astrologers could decipher the writing. Daniel 
was then introduced by the grandmother of Belshazzar 
and wife of Nebuchadnezzar. He declared the words to 
be Mene, Mene, Tekel, Ujuiaksin : 



276 DANIEL. b. c. 538 

Mene — God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished 
it. 

Tekel — Thou art weighed in the balances and found 
wanting. 

Peres — Thy kingdom is divided and given to the 
Medes and Persians.* 

Daniel was then rewarded, and proclaimed the third 
ruler in the kingdom ; but the same night Babylon was 
taken by Cyrus and Belshazzar slain. (See sect. 567.) 
Dan. v. 

628. Daniel in the/Lions' Den, 538. — Darius the 
Mede having ascended the throne at the age of sixty-two 
(sect. 568), appointed one hundred and twenty princes 
over the whole kingdom under three presidents, of whom 
Daniel was the first. The presidents and princes were 
jealous of Daniel, but could bring no charge against him ; 
and therefore, knowing his piety to God, they persuaded 
Darius to issue a decree that for thirty days no one should 
pray to God or man, but to King Darius only, on pain of 
being thrown into the den of lions. Daniel disobeyed the 
decree by continuing his usual practice of praying to God 
three times a day, and was immediately apprehended. 
Darius tried to save him, but was unable, as the laws of 
the Medes and Persians were unchangeable, and the 
prophet was thrown into the den. Next morning the 
king went to the den, after passing a sleepless night, and 
found Daniel unhurt, who was then released, and his ac- 
cusers and their wives and children thrown in, when the 
lions immediately devoured them. Dan. vi. 

629. Daniel foretells the Exact Time of the Coming 
and Death of the Messiah, 538. — Daniel, having 
learnt from the prophecies of Jeremiah that the seventy 
years' captivity was drawing to a close, commenced fasting 
and prayer for the restoration of Jerusalem. 

Whilst thus engaged the angel Gabriel appeared to 
him, and revealed to him the exact time of the coming 
and death of the Messiah and duration of the temple : — 

* The verb paras, whence Peres is derived, as an appellative sig- 
nifies to "divide" or "break;" it is likewise the proper name of the 
Persians, who were to be sharers in the division of the Babylonian 
empire. Uj>harn>n is a particle of the verb paras; it literally signifies, 
"And they divide it." — Loivth. 



b. c. 534. DANIEL. 277 

" From the going forth of the commandment to restore 
and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall 
be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks : the street 
shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 
And after threescore and two weeks shall the Messiah be 
cut off, but not for himself; and the people of the prince 
that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary." 
Dan. ix. 25, 26. 

This prophecy was thus fulfilled : 

The commencement of the building of the temple is 
fixed in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes Lon- 
gimanus, b. c. 458, when the order was issued to Ezra. 
(See sect. 584.) 

Prophetic Y 
■weeks. 

The building of the temple lasted from b. c. 

458 to 409, or 7 49 

The period from the completion of the temple 
to the public manifestation of the Messiah 
at the beginning of John the Baptist's 
preaching, extending from b. c. 409 to a. d. 
25, or 62 434 

From the manifestation of the Messiah to his 

passion (a. d. 25 to 32) were . . . 1 7 

From the building of the temple to the pas- 
sion of our Lord, b. c. 458 to a. d. 32 . 70 490 

(Our Lord is supposed to have been born four years 
before the vulgar era of Anno Domini.) 

630. Daniel's other Vropliecies, cir. 534, — Daniel 
having thus prophesied the rise and successive downfall 
of the Assyrian, Grecian, Persian, and Roman empires ; 
the rise and fall of Antichrist, and duration of his power ; 
the exact time of the coming and death of the Messiah, 
and his victories over his enemies, and second destruction 
of Jerusalem, — he was favored in his old age by a fourth 
and last prophetic vision of events which extended through 
successive ages, and only ended with the general resurrec- 
tion. In the third year of the reign of Cyrus, whilst 
Daniel was fasting and making supplication, an angel 
comforted him, and unfolded to him — 1st. The destruction 

24 



278 HOSEA. 

of the Persian empire by Greece, which was accomplished 
by Alexander ; 2d. The partition of Alexander's domin- 
ions into four kingdoms (Greece, Thrace, Syria, and 
Egypt, erected by Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and 
Ptolemy) ; 3d. The wars between the kingdoms of Egypt, 
which lay to the south of Judsea, and of Syria on the 
north, together with the conquest of Macedon by the 
Romans ; 4th. The tyranny of the papal Antichrist, which 
was to spring up under the Roman empire ; and 5th. The 
invasion of the Saracens from the south and the Turks 
from the north in the time of the end, or latter days of the 
Roman monarchy. This amazing and comprehensive 
prophecy concludes with foretelling the general resurrec- 
tion, and with announcing the time when all these great 
events were to have their final consummation, when the 
Jews were to be restored, Antichrist destroyed, the fulness 
of the Gentiles brought in, and the millennium, or reign 
of saints, was to begin ; but the exact period, until Provi- 
dence shall open more of the seals, cannot be fully ascer- 
tained. Dan. x.-xii.* 



THE TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS. 



(Called minor from the brevity of their works, not from the in- 
feriority of their writings.) 

631. 1. Hosea, dr. 810-725. — Hosea, son of Beeri, 
prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, 
and in the third year of Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and 
during the reign of Jeroboam II., king of Israel. His 
subjects are — the guilt and disobedience of the Jewish 
nation, the heavy judgments that awaited them, their 

* The book of Daniel was written partly in Hebrew and partly in 
Cbaldee. The History of Susanna, and Bel and the Dragon, are 
ascribed to him. but their authenticity is more than doubtful. These 
three books, however, with Ezekiel's prophecies, are the only writings 
extant of those prophesied in Babylon during the Captivity; but part 
of the prophecies of Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Obadiah were written 
in Juduea about the same time. 



JOEL, AMOS, OBADIAH. 279 

final conversion and re-establishment in the Land of 
Promise, and their restoration to God's favor and to a 
condition of the greatest national prosperity, under the 
immediate protection of the Messiah, in the latter ages 
of the world. Hosea also predicts the ingrafting of the 
Gentiles into the Church of God, and alludes to the call- 
ing of our Lord from Egypt, the resurrection on the third 
day, the overthrow of the Antichristian army in Pales- 
tine by the immediate interposition of Jehovah, and the 
Saviour's final victory over death and hell. 

The most singular circumstances in Hosea's prophetical 
career were — his being desired by God to marry, first, a 
harlot, and afterward an adulteress, as a type of the then 
and after state of the Jews. 

632. 2. Joel, cir. 810-660, or later.— It is difficult 
to determine the chronology of Joel, son of Pethuel. His 
prophecies are exceedingly poetic. By a cloud of locusts 
he represents an enemy's army which desolated Judaea, 
and this, together with caterpillars and drought, brought 
on a terrible famine. God, being moved by the calami- 
ties and prayers of his people, then scattered the locusts, 
and the wind blew them into the sea. Subsequently, Joel 
foretells the day of the Lord and his vengeance. He 
speaks of the Teacher of righteousness to come from 
God, and of the Holy Spirit to descend upon all flesh. 
He says that Jerusalem will eternally be inhabited, that 
salvation will come from thence, and that whosoever shall 
call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts ii. 6. 

633. 3. Amos, cir. 810-785. — Amos was a herds- 
man and gatherer of sycamore-fruit at Tekoah in Judah, 
about four leagues south of Jerusalem, and prophesied 
about the times of Uzziah of Judah and Jeroboam II. of 
Israel. He prophesied against Damascus, the Philistines, 
Tyrians, Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites, Judah, and 
Israel, and foretold the invasions of Pul, Shalmaneser, 
Tiglath-pileser, Sennacherib, and Nebuchadnezzar, and 
captivity of the ten tribes. 

634. 4. Obadiah, cir. 588-583. — His time is uncer- 
tain. His prophecies are in one chapter, in which he de- 
nounces judgments on the Edomites for their enmity to 
the .lews, and foretells the restoration of the latter and 
their victories and flourishing state. 



280 JONAH, MICAII. 

635. 5. Jonali, cir. 856-784. — Son of Amittai, and 

a native of Gath-hepher in Galilee. He prophesied about 
the time of Jeroboam II. of Israel, during whose reign 
he predicted the recovery of the coasts of Israel, which 
had been seized by the Syrians. 2 Kings xiv. 25, 26. (See 
sect. 471.) 

Jonah was sent by God to cry against Nineveh, but, 
being fearful, he embarked at Joppa to fly to Tarshish. 
During the voyage a storm arose, and the mariners, hav- 
ing thrown their wares overboard, cast lots to ascertain 
who was the cause of the evil, when the lot fell upon 
Jonah, and they threw him overboard and the storm 
ceased. A great fish swallowed up Jonah, who remained 
in its belly three days and three nights, but upon pray- 
ing to God he was vomited upon dry ground. God then 
a second time sent Jonah to Nineveh, which was three 
days' journey, or about sixty miles, round, and Jonah, 
having made one day's journey into it, cried, " In forty 
days shall Nineveh be overthrown." The Ninevites then 
repented, and their destruction was postponed, which dis- 
pleased Jonah (as it affected his veracity as a prophet) ; 
upon which God caused a gourd to grow up in one night 
to shelter him from the sun's rays, but to wither the next 
night, as a reproof to the prophet, who desired to spare 
the gourd, but murmured that God should have spared 
Nineveh and its 120,000 inhabitants. 

Jonah's preservation for three days and three nights in 
the belly of the fish is considered to be typical of our 
Saviour's being held in the jaws of death for a similar 
period. "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh 
after a sign ; and there shall no sign be given to it, but 
the sign of the prophet Jonas : for as Jonas was three 
days and three nights in the whale's belly ; so shall the 
Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart 
of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judg- 
ment with this generation, and shall condemn it : because 
they repented at the preaching of Jonas ; and, behold, a 
greater than Jonas is here." Matt. xii. 39-41 ; xvi. 4 ; 
Luke xi. 29-32. 

636. 6. Micah, cir. 758-699.— Born at Morasthi in 
Southern Judrea, and prophesied during the reigns of 
Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. He fore- 



NAHUM, HABaKKUK, ZEPHANIAH. 281 

told the invasions and triumphs of Shalmaneser and Sen- 
nacherib in Israel and Judah ; the captivities, dispersion, 
and deliverance of Israel ; the cessation of prophecy ; the 
destruction of Assyria and Babylon ; the representatives 
of the Christian Church ; the birth of the everlasting 
Ruler at Bethlehem Ephratah ; the establishment and 
exaltation of Christ's kingdom over all nations ; the in- 
fluence of the gospel ; and the destruction of Jerusalem. 
— Dr. Gray. 

" But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, 
Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, 
Yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler 

in Israel ; 
Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." 

Mic. v. 2. 

637. 7. Nalnim, cir. 720-698. — Nahum is supposed 
to have been a native of Elkosh or Elkosha, a village in 
Galilee, and of the tribe of Simeon. His prophecy is 
one entire poem, which, opening with a sublime descrip- 
tion of the justice and power of God, tempered with long- 
suffering, foretells the destruction of Sennacherib's forces 
and the subversion of the Assyrian empire, together with 
the deliverance of Hezekiah and death of Sennacherib. 
The destruction of Nineveh is then predicted, and de- 
scribed with singular minuteness. 

638. 8. Hdbahkuk, cir. 612-598.— Bis tribe and 
birthplace are unknown. His prophecies are in two 
parts. The first is a kind of dialogue between God and 
the prophet, in which the Babylonian captivity is threat- 
ened, the Messiah promised, and the destruction of Bab- 
ylon foretold. The second part is a psalm or prayer, in 
which Habakkuk recounts the wonderful works of the 
Almighty, and implores him to hasten the deliverance of 
his people. 

639. 9. Zephaniah, cir.. 64O-609. — Son of Cushi, 
and prophesied during the reign of Josiah. He denounced 
Judah for her idolatry; preached repentance as the only 
means to avert the divine vengeance; prophesied against 
the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Ethiopia, and Nin- 
eveh ; and predicted the Babylonian captivity and future 
restoration and prosperity of the Church. 

24* 



282 HAGGAI, ZECHARIAH, MALACHI. 

640. 10. Haggai, cir. 520-518, or longer. — His 

birthplace and tribe are unknown, but the times of his 
predictions are distinctly marked by himself — viz. b. c. 
520, when the Jews, discouraged by the impediments 
thrown in their way by ihe Samaritans, had ceased to 
prosecute the rebuilding of the temple. Haggai was then 
raised up to exhort the Jews to complete the building. 
Ezra v. 1, and sect. 578. He predicted that the glory of 
the second temple should exceed that of the first, which 
was fulfilled when Christ entered it ; and he foretold the 
setting up of the Messiah's kingdom under the name of 
Zerubbabel. 

641. 11. Zechariah, cir. 520-518, or longer. — Son 
of Berechiah and grandson of Iddo, but his tribe and birth- 
place are unknown. Like Haggai, he returned from the 
Captivity with Zerubbabel. His prophecies are in two 
parts. In the first he enjoins the restoration of the tem- 
ple, and intersperses predictions relative to the advent of 
the Messiah. In the second he foretells more distant cir- 
cumstances — the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans ; 
the future condition of the Jews ; their compunction at 
having pierced the Messiah ; their admission by baptism 
to the privileges of the gospel covenant; and the final 
re-establishment of Christ's kingdom. 

After Isaiah, the prophet Zechariah referred most par- 
ticularly to the coming of our Saviour. He intimated — 
1st, The entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem riding on 
an ass. Zech. ix. 10 ; Matt. xxi. 2-9. 2d, The selling of 
our Lord and the fate of the money. Zech. xi. 12, 13; 
Matt. xxvi. 15 ; xxvii. 3-10. 3d, The piercing of our 
Lord's side. Zech. xii. 10 ; John xix. 34-37. 

642. 12. Malachi, cir. 434-420.— Malachi was the 
last of the prophets, and completed the canon of the Old 
Testament ; his exact time and birthplace are unknown. 
He was commissioned to reprove the priests and people 
for the irreligious practices into which they had fallen 
during and after the governorship of Nehemiah, their 
disrespect to God in their sacrifices, and their unlawful 
intermarriages with idolatresses. He prophesied the re- 
jection of the Jews, the calling of the Gentiles, the com- 
ing of Christ, and the ministry of his forerunner, John the 
Baptist : " Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall 



PROPHECIES, INTIMATIONS, ETC. 283 

prepare the way before me : and the Lord, whom ye seek, 
shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the 
covenant whom ye delight in : behold, he shall come, saith 
the Lord of hosts. . . . Behold, I will send you Elijah 
the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful 
day of the Lord." Mai. iii. ; iv. ; Matt. xi. 14; xvii. 11; 
Mark ix. 11 ; Luke i. 17. 



PRINCIPAL PROPHECIES, INTIMATIONS, AND TYPES 
OF THE MESSIAH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. 

643. By God to the Serpent. — " He (the seed of the 
woman) shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his 
heel." Gen. iii. 15. (See Gal. iv. 4 and 1 John iii. 18.) 

644. By God to Abraham. — " In thee shall all the 
families of the earth be blessed." Gen. xii. 3 ; xviii. 18 ; 
xxii. 18. To Isaac, Gen. xxvi. 4; and to Jacob, Gen. 
xxviii. 14. (See Gal. iii. 9, 16; Matt. i. 1.) 

645. By Jacob to Judah. — "The sceptre shall not 
depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, 
until Shiloh come ; and unto him shall the gathering of 
the people be." Gen. xlix. 10. Fulfilled by the high 
priests continuing to exercise their authority until A. D. 
70. 

646. By Balaam. — " I shall see him, but not now : 

I shall behold him, but not nigh : 
There shall come a Star out of Jacob, 
And a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel." 

Num. xxiv. 17 ; Kev. xxii. 16. 

647. By Moses to the Israelites. — " The Lord thy 
God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of 
thee, of thy brethren, like unto me." Deut. xviii. 15. 
(See Acts vii. 37.) 

648. By Job. — " For I know that my Redeemer liveth, 
and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." 
Job xix. 25. (See 1 Thess. iv. 16, 17; 1 Cor. xv. 24-26; 
1 Tim. iii. 16.) 

(> \9. By God to David. — " I will set up thy seed after 
thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will 
establish his kingdom. lie shall build an house for my 



284 PROPHECIES, INTIMATIONS, AND TYPES OF 

name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for 
ever." 2 Sam. vii. 12, 13. (See Matt. i. 1.) 

650. By David. — 

" For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell ; 

Neither wilt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption." 

Ps. xvi. 10. (See Acts ii. 31 ; xiii. 33-37 ; 1 Cor. xv. 44.) 

" The Lord said unto my Lord, 

Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thy enemies 

thy footstool." Ps. ex. 1. (See Matt. xxii. 42-44; 

Acts ii. 33; Heb. v. 6; vii. 2, 3, 17.) 

" Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire ; 
Mine ears hast thou opened ; 

Burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required. 
Then said I, Lo, I come : 
In the volume of the book it is written of me, 
I delight to do thy will, O my God ; 
Yea, thy law is within my heart." 

Ps. xl. 6-8. (See Heb. x. 5.) 

" Yea, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, 
Which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel 
against me." Ps. xli. 9. (See Matt. xxvi. 47.) 

" The stone which the builders refused is become the head- 
stone of the corner. 
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord." 
Ps. cxviii. 22, 26. (See Matt. xx. 9, 42 ; Eph. 

ii. 20 ; 1 Pet. ii. 7.) 

651. By Isaiah. — 

" The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, 
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, 
Make straight in the desert a highway for our God." 

Isa. xl. 3. (See Matt. iii. 1-3 ; Luke iii. 4.) 
" Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, 
And shall call his name Immanuel." 

Isa. vii. 14. (See Matt. i. 20, 23.) 

" And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, 
Which shall stand for an ensign of the people ; 
To it shall the Gentiles seek : 
And his rest shall be glorious." 

Isa. xi. 10. (See Bom. ix. 33 ; 1 Pet. ii. 8 ; 
John i. 32 ; iii. 34 ; Col. ii. 3.) 



THE MESSIAH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. 285 

" For unto us a child is born, 
Unto us a son is given : 

And the government shall be upon his shoulder : 
And his name shall be called 
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, 
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall 

be no end. 
Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, 
To order it, and to establish it, 
With judgment and with justice from henceforth even 

for ever." 

Isa. ix. 6, 7. (See John iii. 16 ; Matt, xxviii. 18.) 

" The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me ; 
Because the Lord hath anointed me 
To preach good tidings unto the meek ; 
He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, 
To proclaim liberty to the captives, 
And the opening of the prison to them that are bound ; 
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, 
And the day of vengeance of our God." 

Isa. lxi. 1, 2. (See Luke iv. 18, 19, 21.) 

" The people that walked in darkness have seen a great 
light: 
They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, 
Upon them hath the light sinned." 

Isa. ix. 2. (See Matt. iv. 14-16.) 

" Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, 
And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, 
And the tongue of the dumb sing." 

Isa. xxxv. 5, 6. (See Matt. xi. 5.) 

" I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, 
That thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the 
earth." Isa. xlix. 6. (See Luke ii. 32.) 

' He is despised and rejected of men ; 
A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. 
He was wounded for our transgressions, 
He was bruised for our iniquities: 



286 PROPHECIES, INTIMATIONS, AND TYPES OF 

The chastisement of our peace was upon him ; 
And with his stripes we are healed. 
All we like sheep have gone astray ; 
We have turned every one to his own way ; 
And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." 
Isa. liii. 3, 5, 6. (See Matt. xxvi. ; xxvii.) 

652, By Jeremiah. — 

" Behold the days come, saith the Lord, 
That I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, 
And a King shall reign and prosper, 
And shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. . . . 
And this is his name whereby he shall be called, 
The Lord our Righteousness." 

Jer. xxiii. 5, 6. (See Luke i. 32, 33.) 

653. By EzeMel. — 

" And I will set up one Shepherd over them, and he shall 
feed them, 
Even my servant David." Ezek. xxxiv. 23 ; xxxvii. 
24. (See John i. 49 ; x. 1, 16 ; xix. 19, 21.) 

654. By Daniel. — " I saw in the night visions, and, 
behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of 
heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought 
him near before him. And his dominion is an everlasting 
dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom 
that which shall not be destroyed." Dan. vii. 13, 14. (See 
Matt. xxiv. 30 ; xxvi. 64 ; xxviii. 18.) 

" Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and 
upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to 
make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for in- 
iquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to 
seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most 
Holy." Dan. ix. 24. (See Heb. ix. 26 ; John i. 41. See 
also sect. 629.) 

655. By Hosea. — 

" When Israel was a child, then I loved him, 
And called my Son out of Egypt." 

Hos. xi. 1. (See Matt. ii. 19, 20.) 

65Q. By Micah.— 
" But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, 
Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, 



THE MESSIAH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. 287 

Yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to 
be ruler in Israel ; 

Whose goings forth have been from of old, from ever- 
lasting." Mic. v. 2. (See Acts ii. 1, 6 ; Luke ii. 4, 5.) 

657. By Zechariah. — 

" Behold the man whose name is The Branch ; 
And he shall grow up out of his place, 
And he shall build the temple of the Lord." 

Zech. vi. 12. (See Luke i. 78, 79.) 
" Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion ; 
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem ; 
Behold, thy King cometh unto thee : 
He is just, and having salvation ; 
Lowly, and riding upon an ass, 
And upon a colt the foal of an ass." 

Zech. ix. 9. (See Matt. xxi. 5 ; John xii. 15.) 
" So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 
And the Lord said unto me, 
Cast it unto the potter : 
A goodly price that I was prized at of them." 

Zech. xi. 12, 13. (See Matt. xxvi. 15.) 
" And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, 
And they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his 
only son." 
Zech. xii. 10. (See John xix. 34, 36 ; Acts ii. 23.) 

658. By Malachi. — 

" Behold, I will send my messenger, 
And he shall prepare the way before me : 
And the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to 

his temple, 
Even the messenger of the covenant." 

Mai. iii. 1. (See Matt. iii. 1, 3 ; xi. 10.) 

659. The Persons typical of the Messiah in the Old 
Testament are — Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Melchiz- 
edek, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, David, Solo- 
mon, Zerubbabel, etc. 

660. T7ie Tilings typical of the Messiah are — Noah's 
ark, manna, the rock in Horeb, the brazen serpent, the 
passover, the Pentecost, the feast of atonement, the high 
priest, the paschal lamb, circumcision, the ark of the cove- 
nant, the golden candlestick, the mercy-seat, the temple, etc. 



288 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE 



CONNECTION 

BETWEEN THE 



OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, 

INCLUDING 

THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OF 
NEHEMIAH TO THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST. 



ANALYSIS. 

T. Jewish History from Nehemiah to the Revolt under the Maccabees, 
b. c. 420-166. 

Persia, B. C. 420-330.— Chasm in the Jewish history 
from Nehemiah to Alexander the Great. — Joshua slain in the 
temple by Jonathan the high priest, 366. — Samaritans build the 
temple at Gerizim ; Manasses, high priest. — Decline of the Per- 
sian empire. ^ 

Alexander the Great and his Successors, 330- 
300. — Alexander's first conquests ; visits Jerusalem, 332. — Con- 
quers Egypt and overthrows Persia, 332-330. — His death, 323; 
disputes among his generals. — Four kingdoms established by per- 
manent treaty. 

Ef/1/pt — the Ptolemies, 300-202. — Government under 
the Ptolemies.— Death of Simon the Just, 292: completion of the 
canon of Scripture. — Septuagint completed. — Ptolemy Philopatrr 
enters the Holy of Holies; persecutes the Jews at Alexandria, 217. 

Syria — the Seleucidm, 202-100. — Conquest of Pales- 
tine by Antiochus the Great, 202. — Jewish temple saved from 
plunder by a miracle, 176. — Jesus, or Jason, introduces Greek 
idolatry amongst the Jews, 175. — Menelaus supplants Jason in the 
high priesthood, 172. — Antiochus Epiphanes profanes the temple 
and plunders Jerusalem. — Dreadful persecution of the Jews. — Re- 
volt under Mattathias, 168. 

II. History of the Maccabees, or Asamonean Princes, B. C. 166-37. 

Judas Maccabwus, 166. — Character of the war— Judas 
restores the temple; feast of dedication instituted, 166. — Neighbor- 
ing nations league against the Jews; death of Antiochus Epiph- 
anes, 164. — Victories of Judas over the neighboring nations; 
Jews in Galilee transplanted to Judaea. — Victory over Lvsias; first 
peace with Syria. — Judas carries on a border war, and attempts to 



OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 289 

reduce Acra. — Lysias and Antioclms Eupator invade Judaea ;' take 
Bethsura, and besiege Jerusalem. — Second peace between Judas 
and Syria, 163. — Alcimus, high priest, deposed ; Demetrius Soter 
sends an army against Judaea. — Judas forms an alliance with Eome ; 
slain in battle, 161. 

Jonathan Maccabcens, 161. — Persecution revives ; Jona- 
than chosen leader of the people. — Death of Alcimus; fresh wars 
between Baechides and Jonathan, which are concluded by a peace. 
— Alexander Balas, the impostor, obtains Syria ; Jonathan made 
high priest, 153. — Demetrius Nicator obtains the throne of Syria; 
confirms Jonathan in the high priesthood. — Jonathan assists Anti- 
ochus against Demetrius. — Allies with Rome and Lacedaemon ; 
fortifies Judaea. — Falls by the treachery of Tryphon. 

Simon Maceabceas, 14:3. — His independence confirmed 
by Demetrius Nicator. — Completes the fortification of Judaea and 
reduces and levels Acra. — Public memorial of his acts; his powers 
recognized by Eome. — Treacherous invasion of Antioclms Sidetes. 
— Murder of Simon. 

John Hyreanus, 130. — Besieges Ptolemy. — Invasion of 
Antioclms Sidetes; peace at length concluded with Syria. — Accom- 
panies Antioclms against Parthia. — Regains his independence and 
raises the Asamonean power to its greatest height. — Joins the 
Sadducees; Pharisees and Sadducees become political factions. — 
Dies. 

Aristobulus I., 106. — Cruelty to his family; seizes the 
high priesthood and assumes the diadem. — Conquers the Itureans ; 
kills his brother Antigonus. 

Alexander Jauneeus, 105. — Petty wars with his neigh- 
bors. — Civil dissensions fomented by the Pharisees. — Conquers 
Moab and Gilead, but loses his army in Gaulonitis. — Rebellion of 
the Pharisees for six years; his army destroyed. — Regains his 
kingdom ; his cruelty to the rebels. — His dying advice to his 
queen. 

Queen Alexandra, 7<S. — Domination of the Pharisees: 
Hyreanus high priest, — Aristobulus joins the opposite party. 

Hf/reanus 11., 69. — Struggles between Hyreanus and 
Aristobulus. 

Aristobulus II., 6fh — Antipater, father of Herod, espouses 
the cause of Hyreanus. — Intrigues with Aretas, who defeats Aris- 
tobulus. — Roman interference; Pompey arbitrates between Hyrea- 
nus and Aristobulus. — Pompey takes Jerusalem and restores Hyr- 
eanus to the throne. 

Ht/rcanus II. restored, 63. — Roman supremacy; An- 
tipater at the bead of affairs. — Alexander, son of Aristobulus II., 
invades Judaea; defeated by Antipater and the Romans. — Calamus 
changes the government to an aristocracy; constitution of the San- 
hedrims. — Defeat and death of Aristobulus II. and his son Alex- 
ander.— Rise of the Herodians; Herod defies the Sanhedrim. — 
Julius Oesar assassinated, 41; Antipater poisoned by Malichus. — 
Hyreanus joins the faction of Malichus, but is reconciled by 
25 T 



290 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE b. c. 420-330. 

Herod's espousing Mariamne. — Faction of Malichus headed by 
Antigonus, son of Aristobulns II., 42-41. — Parthians place An- 
tigonus on the throne. — Herod escapes to Rome, 40. 

Antif/omfs, 40. — Herod obtains the kingdom from the Tri- 
umvirate. — Reduces Antigonus; end of the Maccabcean Dynasty, 37. 

III. History of the Herodians to the commencement of New Testament 
History. 

Herod the Great, 37-3. — Massacres his opponents and 
propitiates Antony. — Appoints Ananel high priest. — Aristobulus. 
brother of Mariamne, obtains the office, but is drowned. — Herod 
summoned by Antony. — First secret instructions respecting Mari- 
amne. — Fall of Antony at Actium ; Herod conciliates Augustus, 
and is confirmed on the throne. — Second secret instructions respect- 
ing Mariamne; her execution. — Herod introduces heathen customs 
and public games. — Conspiracy of Ten. — Increases the fortifica- 
tions, erects public works, and rebuilds the temple. — Famine in 
Judaea; Herod's generosity. — Intrigues of Salome and Antipater; 
trial and execution of Alexander and Aristobulus, sons of Mari- 
amne. — Conspiracy and trial of Antipater. — Golden eagle pulled 
down at Jerusalem. — Herod's sickness and cruelty. — Shu is up the 
principal Jews in the hippodrome; execution of Antipater. — 
Death of Herod ; his will. — Character of Herod. — Conclusion. 



SUMMARY. 

I. Jewish History from Nehemiah to the Revolt under the 
Maccabees, b. c. 420-166. 

1. Chasm in Jewish History from, Ne- 
B. e c?420-33o. hemiah to Alexander the Great, 420-330. 

— From the administration of Nehemiah to 
the conquests of Alexander there is a chasm in the Jew- 
ish records which Josephus has neglected to fill up. The 
Jews still continued subject to Persia, and paid a yearly 
tribute, whilst the high priest conducted the internal gov- 
ernment of Judaea under the Persian satrap of Syria. 

2. Joshua slain in the Temple by Jonathan the 
High Priest, 366. — The murder of Joshua and build- 
ing of the Samaritan temple are, however, recorded as 
occurring within this period. About b. c. 366, Bagoses 
wafi satrap, and Jonathan or Johanan was high priest. 
Joshua, brother of Jonathan, became a favorite with Ba- 



b. c. 336-322. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 291 

goses, who appears to have invested him with the high 
priesthood to the exclusion of Jonathan. Joshua accord- 
ingly went to Jerusalem ; a quarrel ensued in the temple 
between the two brothers, and Joshua was slain by the 
hand of Jonathan. When the news reached Bagoses, he 
marched to Jerusalem and avenged the death of his favor- 
ite on the whole nation by imposing a tribute of fifty 
drachmas (about £1 12s.) upon every lamb offered for 
sacrifice ; and this continued to be exacted for seven years. 

3. Samaritans build the Temple at Gerizim ; 
Manasses High Priest. — Jaddua, son of Jonathan, af- 
terward succeeded to the high priesthood. His brother 
Manasses married the daughter of Sanballat,* governor 
of Samaria, but the elders at Jerusalem condemned the 
marriage. Manasses would have repudiated his wife, but 
Sanballat persuaded him to accept the high priesthood of 
Samaria. He also promised that, in case of his own death, 
Manasses should succeed him in the governorship, and 
having obtained the permission of Darius, he about this 
time built the Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim, corre- 
sponding to that at Jerusalem.f 

4. Decline of the Persian Empire. — Meantime, the 
occurrence of frequent rebellions in the provinces depend- 
ent on the Persian power, the increase of luxury amongst 
the people, and the power exercised by the royal seraglio, 
all caused and indicated the gradual decline of the empire, 
which was at length overturned by the new power of 
Macedonia. 

5. Alexander's First Conquests ; visits ., , 
Jerusalem, 332. — Alexander the Great sue- the Great, 
ceeded his father Philip in b. c. 336. Having B - c - 33G - ;322 - 
crossed the Hellespont, he defeated a Persian army at 
Granicus. Darius advanced against him in person, but 
was completely routed at Issus, and forced to fly. Alex- 
ander then subdued Phoenicia, and spent seven months in 
besieging Tyre, during which Jaddua, the high priest and 
successor of Jonathan, had refused to break his oath of 

* Dean PrideftUX supposes that this Sanballat was the same San- 
ballat the Horonite who opposed Nehemiab (sect. 589). This, how- 
ever, cannot be reconciled with the chronology, and it is probable that 
two different governors of Samaria may have borne the same name. 

f For the origin of the Samaritans see sect. 507. 



292 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE b. c. 323-300. 

fealty to Darius by supplying him with provisions. Ac- 
cordingly, Alexander marched to Jerusalem to punish 
him for his refusal. The terrified high priest was directed 
in a celestial vision to array himself and the other priests 
in their sacerdotal dress, and to meet the conqueror at- 
tended by the citizens clothed in white garments. The 
sacred procession so affected Alexander that he adored 
the name of God written on the high priest's tiara (sect. 
163), and saluted Jaddua ; and, entering Jerusalem, he 
offered sacrifices to Jehovah as the priests directed, and 
was shown the prophecy of Daniel that Greece should 
overcome Persia (sect. 630). He subsequently remitted 
the payment of tribute in the sabbatical year. The Sa- 
maritans envied these privileges conferred on their neigh- 
bors, and endeavored, but without success, to obtain the 
same for themselves. 

6. Conquers Egypt and overthrows Persia, 332- 
330. — Alexander next marched to Egypt, which gladly 
submitted, b. c. 332 ; and the next year (b. c. 331) he 
founded Alexandria, and proceeded into the desert to 
sacrifice in the temple of Jupiter Amnion. The same 
spring he set out toward Syria to meet Darius, who had 
collected another army. On his w T ay he punished the 
Samaritans for burning the house of Andromachus, whom 
he had appointed to be their governor, and then marched 
through Phoenicia and Syria, crossed the Euphrates and 
Tigris, defeated Darius and his 1,000,000 troops with im- 
mense slaughter on the plains of Gaugamela, and pur- 
sued the fugitives to Arbela, which place has given its 
name to the battle, though it w T as nearly fifty miles dis- 
tant from the spot where it was fought. Darius fled to 
Ecbatana in Media, whilst Babylon, Susa, and Persepolis 
surrendered to his conqueror ; bat the next year (b. c. 
330) Alexander again marched against him, but Darius 
fell by the treachery of Bessus, satrap of Bactria, though 
the burning of Persepolis had previously made known to 
Asia that the empire of Persia was destroyed and that the 
East must henceforth acknowledge a new lord and master. 
f 7. Death of Alexander. 323 : Disputes 

Successors of Z . ' . . f 

Alexander. amongst his Generals. — it is not within our 
b. c. 323-300. p r0 vince to pursue further the narration of 
Alexander's conquests. He died at Babylon, b. c. 323 ; 



b. c. 300. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 293 

but after his death violent disputes broke out amongst 
his generals, who divided the empire amongst themselves. 
For the present, however, they only bore the titles of 
governors of provinces under Alexander iEgeus, the 
posthumous son of Alexander the Great by Roxana, whom 
they had declared king jointly with Aridseus, an illegiti- 
mate son of King Philip. 

8. Ptolemy Lagus takes Jerusalem, — Wars soon 
broke out between these generals, in the course of which 
Ptolemy Lagus conquered Judaea. Josephus says that he 
came to Jerusalem to sacrifice in the temple, and that he 
took the city without a blow by entering it on the Sabbath. 
He carried off several Samaritans and many thousand 
Jews to Egypt, but treated them kindly. For some years 
Syria and Egypt were perpetually at war with each other, 
and as Palestine lay between those countries, it was often 
not only the prize of the contest, but the arena upon 
which the combatants fought for the victory. 

9. Four Kingdoms established by a Permanent 
Treaty, 300. — The great horn of the he-goat, as proph- 
esied by Daniel, was broken by the death of Alexander, 
and the generals of the latter, who had carried on almost 
a continual war since the death of their sovereign, were 
in the space of a few years reduced to four in number — 
viz. Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy Lagus, and Seleucus. 
The four horns of the he-goat and four heads of the 
leopard were therefore now to be represented by the four 
kingdoms established by a permanent treaty, by which 
the four generals were to be kings of the following prov- 
inces : 

1. Cassander was to have Macedonia and Greece. 

2. Lyshviachus, Thrace, Bithynia, and some of the ad- 
joining provinces. 

3. Ptolemy Lagus, Libya, Egypt, Arabia Petrsea, 
Palestine, and Coele-Syria.* 

4. Seleucus, all that remained, comprehending many 

;;: " Coele-Syria, or Hollow Syria, was the name given after the Mace- 
donian conquest to the great and fertile valley between the two ranges 
of Lebanon — Libanus and Anti-Libanus — in the south of Syria, bor- 
dering upon Phoenicia on the west and Palestine on the south. In the 
wars between the Ptolemies and Seleuoidffi the name was applied to the 
whole of Southern Syria, including Damascus j and it was this latter 
territory that now became subject to the kings of Egypt. 

25* 



294 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE 



b. o. 300-283. 



provinces in Asia Minor, Syria, Mesopotamia, Babylonia, 
and the East as far as India. 

E t 10. Government tinder the Ptolemies, 

Ptolemy i., 300-202. — According to the foregoing 
B.T300-283. treaty, Palestine was included in the domin- 
ions of the Ptolemies, under whom it con- 
tinued for nearly a century. During this period the rev- 
enues were farmed to the high priests, who appear to have 
continued to govern the Jews with the same powers they 
had enjoyed under the Persian satraps of Syria. 

11. Death of Simon the Just, 292 ; Completion 
of the Canon of Scripture. — Simon the Just, who 
was the grandson of Jaddua, had succeeded to the high 
priesthood b. c. 300, and is said by the Jews to have been 
the last of the Great Synagogue, which consisted of one 
hundred and twenty persons. These had returned with 
Ezra from the captivity in Babylon, and had been en- 
gaged in restoring the observance of the Law, and in 
collecting all the sacred books into one body and com- 
posing the canon of Scripture.* This "Great Syna- 
gogue" was followed by a "New Synagogue," which 
expounded and commented upon the completed canon. 
Simon the Just was succeeded in the high priesthood by 
his brother Eleazar, but the founder and first president 
of the New Synagogue f was Antigonus Socho,% or So- 
chseus, the first of the Mishnical teachers who studied 
the traditions. 

Ptolemy 11. 12. Septuagint completed. — The Jews 

Phiiadeiphus. now appear to have lived in uninterrupted 
tranquillity. They began to spread over the 
known world, and studied Greek literature, and compiled 
the Septuagint at Alexandria, w T hich was so called because, 
according to tradition, it was supposed to have been made 



* Many stories are related of Simon the Just in the Jerusalem Tal- 
mud and elsewhere, which it would be unnecessary to repeat here. 

f The Synagogue has been sometimes confused with the council of 
the Sanhedrim, but this latter assembly did not exist before the time 
of the Maccabees. 

J The Jews ascribe the origin of the Sadducees to the method of in- 
struction pursued by Suchn, for the latter having taught that man ought 
to serve God disinterestedly, and not from fear of punishment or hope 
of reward, his two pupils, Sadoc and Baithua, inferred that there was 
no future state of rewards or punishments. 



b. c. 247-187. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 295 

in seventy-two days by seventy elders, or learned Jews, 
who had been sent by Eleazar the high priest to Alex- 
andria at the request of Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of 
Egypt. 

13. Ptolemy Philopator enters the Holy n , 

._,,. J , -x. t *^7 Ptolemy III., 

of Holies; persecutes the Jews at Alexan- Energeies. 
dria, 217* — No event of importance now oc- p^j^ 7 " IV 
curred in Jewish history until the war broke phuopntor. 
out between Ptolemy Philopator and Anti- p t o\^fj v ., 
ochus the Great, during which Palestine suf- Eptphams. ' 
fared greatly from the contending armies. At 
length Philopator defeated Antiochus in the battle of Ra- 
phia, after which the Jews sent to renew their homage to 
Ptolemy, who then visited their temple and offered sacri- 
fices, and even ventured to enter the Holy of Holies con- 
trary to the expostulations of the priests; but he is said 
to have been seized with supernatural terror and to have 
rushed hastily out. On returning to Egypt, however, 
he visited his anger against the Jews at Jerusalem upon 
those of Alexandria, and published a decree forbidding 
any to enter his presence who refused to worship his 
gods. He is subsequently said to have shut up large 
numbers in the hippodrome or circus, for the purpose 
of destroying them with his elephants ; but when the ani- 
mals were made drunk with wine and brought forth, they 
fell upon the spectators instead of attacking the Jews. 

14. Conquest of Palestine by Antiochus 

the Great, 202. — Ptolemy V., or Epiphanes, JnUochusthe 
had succeeded his father, Ptolemy Philopator, Great, b. c. 
B. c. 205, to the kingdom of Egypt, at the 
early age of five years. Antiochus the Great, who had 
ascended the throne of Syria, which included Asia Minor, 
Syria, Mesopotamia, Babylonia, etc., was now in the zenith 
of his glory, and had carried his conquests to the borders 
of India. In b. c. 203 he allied with Philip of Macedon 
to share the territories of the youthful Ptolemy, and then 
seized Palestine, Phoenicia, and Ccele-Syria. A war en- 
sued in which the Jews suffered more from the Egyptian 
than the Syrian armies, and being otherwise alienated 
from the Ptolemies, they tendered their submission to An- 
tiochus, supplied his army with provisions, and assisted 
him in expelling the Egyptian garrison from the castle 



296 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE b. c. 187-176. 

of Zion. Antiochus liberally rewarded the Jews for their 
attachment ; he gave an annual pension toward the sacri- 
fices, and decreed that no foreigner should enter the lim- 
its of their temple. 

Seieucus phi- ^' ^ ewisJl Temple sewed front Plun- 
lopator. b. c. cler by a Miracle, 176. — Antiochus the 
Great was succeeded on the throne of Syria 
by Seieucus Philopator. During the reign of the latter, 
Simon, a Benjamite, and governor of the temple, quar- 
relled with Onias the high priest, and in revenge reported 
to Apollonius, the governor of Ccele-Syria under Seieucus, 
the great wealth hoarded in the temple at Jerusalem. 
Heliodorus, the king's treasurer, was accordingly sent to 
bring away the riches, but on approaching the treasury 
it is said (2 Mace.) that a vision of a man on horseback 
struck him to the ground, and it was with great difficulty 
he recovered. 

Antiochus 16. Jesus, or Jason, introduces Greek 

Epiphanes. Idolatry amongst the Jews, 175. — A_nti- 
b. c. i/6. ochus, surnamed Epiphanes, ascended the 

throne of Syria on the death of his brother Seieucus, and 
by seeking to combine the popular manners of a Roman 
with the ostentatious luxury of a Syrian he became to his 
subjects an object of hatred and contempt. As soon as 
he was settled in his kingdom, Jason, the brother of Onias 
the high priest, being ambitious of obtaining the pontif- 
ical office for himself, bribed Antiochus with the large 
sum of three hundred and sixty talents [£86,400] to in- 
vest him with the high priesthood and to summon Onias 
to Antioch. Jason warmly espoused the principles of An- 
tiochus, and labored to introduce Greek institutions and 
worship into Judaea. He established a Greek gymnasium 
and idolatrous games at Jerusalem, encouraged apostasy 
from the law of Moses, and did his utmost to induce the 
people to adopt heathen customs. 

17. Menelaus supplants Jason in the High Priest- 
hood, 172. — After three years Jason sent his young- 
er brother Menelaus* to carry tribute to Antioch, when 

* Jason had changed his name, which was* at first Jews, in order to 
show his devotion to Greek superstitions. Menelaus had in the same 
manner changed his name, which was originally the same as that of 
his eldest brother Onias, whom Jason had supplanted. 



b. c. 176. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 297 

the latter, by an increased bribe to Antiochus, obtain- 
ed the high priesthood for himself, and Jason in his 
turn was deposed from the office. Menelaus was subse- 
quently unable to raise the promised money, and was at 
last obliged to sell the golden vessels belonging to the 
temple. Onias, the real high priest, who was impris- 
oned at Antioch, heard of the sacrilege, and severely 
rebuked Menelaus ; upon which the latter persuaded 
Andronicus, the governor of Antioch, to put Onias to 
death. 

18. Antiochus Kpiplianes profanes the Temple, 
and plunders Jerusalem. — About this period a Avar 
broke out between Syria and Egypt, and Antiochus in- 
vaded the latter country as far as Alexandria. Mean- 
time, it was reported that Antiochus was dead, and Jason, 
thinking this a favorable moment to regain the priesthood, 
marched against Jerusalem with 1000 Ammonites and 
took the city, whilst Menelaus secured himself in the 
castle of Zion. When the news reached Antiochus, he 
thought that the whole Jewish nation was in a state of 
revolt. He immediately marched to Jerusalem, retook 
the city, and in the course of three days slew 40,000 of 
the inhabitants and sold as many more as slaves. Jason 
fled to the country of the Ammonites, and subseqently 
died in exile in Lacedsemonia, whilst Menelaus was again 
invested with the high priesthood. But the i'ury of An- 
tiochus could not be satiated by slaughter. Guided by 
the impious apostate Menelaus,* he entered the inmost 
courts of the temple, and even the Holy of Holies, and 
sacrificed a sow upon the altar. He then carried off the 
table of shew-bread, the golden candlestick, the altar of 
incense, and all the offerings which had been made in the 
temple, and after plundering the city in the same way he 
returned to Antioch loaded with treasure. 

19. Dreadful Persecution of the Jews. — Antiochus 
was subsequently repulsed in Egypt by the Romans, and 
whilst returning to Syria he again vented his anger upon 



* The after career of Menelaus is uncertain, bu1 lie is said to have 
been put to death in the reign of Antiochus Eupator by bein^ thrown 
into a high tower filled with ashes at IJcruja, the modern Aleppo. 2 Man-, 
xiii. 4-8. 



298 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE b. c. 176. 

the Jews, whose religion he appears to have held in espe- 
cial abhorrence, and on whose account he now issued a 
decree commanding his whole empire to worship Greek 
gods. In his way through Palestine from Egypt he de- 
tached 22,000 men from his army, and sent them under 
Apollonius to destroy Jerusalem. This general entered 
the place peaceably, but on the following Sabbath he 
committed the most horrible massacre upon the people, 
plundered the whole city, and then set it on fire. Athe- 
nseus, an old man, w T as commissioned to instruct the Jews in 
the Greek religion and compel them to celebrate its rites. 
Circumcision, the keeping of the Sabbath, and every ob- 
servance of the Jewish law were punished by death ; copies 
of the sacred books were destroyed, groves planted, and 
idolatrous altars built in every city ; and the citizens were 
compelled to sacrifice to the Olympian Jupiter and other 
gods, and to eat swine's flesh on the king's birthday and 
keep the feast of Bacchus. Many Jews submitted from 
fear, and others from attachment to Greek customs, yet 
others resisted all the threats and tortures of this unpar- 
alleled persecution. 

20. Revolt of the Jews under Mattathias, 168. — 
At length Mattathias, a priest, publicly set Antiochus at 
defiance. He refused to sacrifice at the idolatrous altar, 
and struck down a Jew who approached it as a rebel to 
Jehovah, and then, with the assistance of his sons and 
others, he slew the royal officers, broke down the altar, 
and fled to the wilderness of Judaea.* Here his party 
rapidly increased, and he soon emerged from his con- 
cealment, demolished the idolatrous altars throughout 
the country, circumcised the children, and slew the 
apostates ; but died in the midst of his expedition, b. c. 
166, and appointed his third son, Judas, surnamed Mac- 
cabseus, or the Hammerer, to be military leader, and 
his second son, Simon Thassi, to be counsellor to his 
brother. 



* It is related that about this time a body of 1000 Jews, being pur- 
sued by the army of Antiochus on the Sabbath day, patiently submitted 
to being cut to pieces rather than violate the sacred rest. Upon this 
Mattathias and his friends made it lawful to resist the attack of an 
enemy on the Sabbath. 



B.C. 106-161. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 299 



II. History of the Maccabees, or Asamonean Princes, b. c. 
166-37. 

21. Character of the War.— The prima- JudasMacca . 

ry object of the Jewish insurrection was not baeus. b. c. 
political independence, but religious freedom ; 166_161 - 
and during the leaderships of Judas and his brother Jon- 
athan the nation continued to pay tribute to the kings of 
Syria ; but in b. c. 143, Demetrius Nicator, the reigning 
monarch, acknowledged Simon as high priest and prince 
of the Jews, and relinquished all claims for tribute, cus- 
toms, or taxes.* 

22. , Tudas restores the Temjrte : Feast of Dedica- 
tion instituted, 160. — Judas soon followed in the steps 
of his father Mattathias. In the first two years of his 
reign he defeated the generals of Antiochus four times, 
and having thus deterred the king from an immediate re- 
newal of the contest, he led his victorious army to Jeru- 
salem for the purpose of cleansing and dedicating the 
sanctuary. This must have been a task of considerable 
difficulty, as the temple was commanded by the fortress 
on Mount Acra, called in the Hebrew Millo (see note to 
sect. 326), which was still garrisoned by the forces of the 
heathen. Judas, however, built up a new altar, furnished 
the temple with fresh vessels, set up the candlestick, table 
of shew-bread, and altar of incense, and hung up the veils 
before the Holy of Holies. Having thus repaired and 
purified the temple just three and a half years after it had 
been polluted by Antiochus, sacrifices were recommenced, 
and a festival celebrated for eight days, which was after- 
ward commemorated by the annual feast of dedica- 
tion. (See sect. 193.) Thus was fulfilled the prophecy 
of Daniel (xii. 7), that three years and a half — or, in the 
language of prophecy, " a time, times, and half a time" — 
should be the period of its desolation. But Mount Mo- 

* In the establishment of the Asamonean power under Judas, Jona- 
than, and Simon we see the reward of valor exerted in defence of re- 
ligion ami law, and the happy effects of family eoneord ; whilst from 
tin- dissensions which prevailed amongst their descendants, and paved 
the way for the aggrandizement of the HerodB, princes may learn the 
useful lesson that family feuds are more to he dreaded than the rebellion 
of Bubjeots; the one; may for a time deprive the prince of power, the 
other wrest the sceptre from the family for ever. — Hales, 



300 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE b. c. 161. 

riah, on which the temple was built, was rather lower than 
Acra, and the people were much annoyed on their way to 
the temple by the heathen garrison. Judas therefore pro- 
tected the Lord's house with walls and towers, and posted 
a detachment of troops to guard it. In subsequent reigns 
Acra was lowered and the valley between the two hills 
was filled up, so that the buildings of the temple overhung 
the fortifications on Acra. 

23. The Neighboring Nations league against the 
Jews; Death of Antiochus Epiphanes, 164, — After 
this Judas fortified Bethsura, a town between Hebron and 
Jerusalem, as a barrier against the Idumseans or Edom- 
ites. Meantime, the neighboring nations formed a league 
for utterly extirpating the Jewish nation, which was, how- 
ever, defeated by the death of Antiochus and energy of 
Judas. Antiochus was proceeding to Babylon when he 
heard of the defeat of his generals, rededication of the 
temple, and destruction of the idolatrous altars. He im- 
mediately returned to Judsea, vowing vengeance against 
the whole Jewish nation ; but on his way was seized with 
a fatal disease, and died in the most dreadful agonies of 
body and soul. 

24. Victories of Judas over the Neighboring Na- 
tions ; Jews in Galilee transplanted to Judaza. — 
Judas now heard of the confederacy formed against him 
and prepared to take the field. He first fell upon the 
Edomites on his southern borders, defeated them in battle, 
besieged and took their fortresses, and put their garrisons 
to the sword. He then entered the country east of the 
Jordan, and defeated Timotheus, the Syrian governor, 
who marched against him. The Phoenicians on the north- 
west and the inhabitants of Gilead on the east immediately 
commenced an active war. Judas now separated his army 
into three divisions : with the first he marched to the re- 
lief of the Jews resident in Gilead ; the second he des- 
patched under his brother Simon to defend Galilee ; whilst 
the third remained at home for the protection of Judaea 
and Jerusalem. A marked success attended this judicious 
proceeding. Judas with his division quickly overran Gil- 
ead, took the towns, and returned laden with spoil. Simon 
defeated the enemy in Galilee, but finding the Jews there 
too few to defend themselves, he wisely induced them to 



b. c. 161. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 301 

remove to Judaea, where they would strengthen the popu- 
lation, which had been weakened by the persecutions of 
Antiochus Epiphanes. The generals of the division who 
remained at home, wishing to share the glory of the two 
brothers, led their forces against Jamnia, a seaport on the 
Mediterranean, but were defeated by Gorgias, the governor 
of that district, with the loss of 2000 men, which misfor- 
tune, however, did not detract from the rising fame of the 
Maccabees. 

25. Victory over Lysias ; First Peace with Syria, 
— Antiochus Eupator had now succeeded his father An- 
tiochus Epiphanes, on the throne of Syria ; and Lysias, 
the guardian and kinsman of Eupator, determined to 
avenge the insult which the Maccabees had inflicted on 
the Syrian empire. Accordingly, Lysias invaded Judrea 
with an army of 80,000 men, including a large body of 
cavalry and eighty elephants, and commenced the siege 
of Bethsura (sect. 23). Judas marched to the attack, 
and succeeded not only in relieving the garrison, but in 
dispersing the invading forces. Lysias then made a peace 
with Judas, which was ratified by Antiochus ; and on this 
occasion the Jewish nation was benefited by the friendly 
interference of the Roman ambassadors at the Syrian 
court. 

26. Judas carries on a Border War, and attempts 
to reduce Acra. — When Lysias had retired to Antioch, 
Judas again invaded Gilead and overthrew Timotheus, 
and then marched against Gorgias and the Idumseans, 
and by a hardly-earned victory avenged the death of 
those who had fallen in the expedition against Jamnia 
(sect. 24). He afterward tried to reduce the fort of Acra, 
from which the Syrian garrison was perpetually sallying 
out and disturbing the peace of the city and service of 
the temple. Some apostate Jews, however, escaped from 
the fort to Antioch, and informed the Syrian king of the 
threatened danger. 

27. Lysias and A ntioehus Eupator invade Jadcea ; 
take Bethsura and besiege Jerusalem, — Antiochus Eu- 
pator and his guardian Lysias were now afraid lost the city 
of Jerusalem should be entirely lost, and accordingly 
they invaded Judsea with a vast army of 120,000 men, 
thirty-two elephants, three hundred chariots, and again 

20 



302 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE 



c. 161. 



commenced the siege of Bethsura. Judas immediately 
raised the siege of Acra, and marched to the relief of the 
fortress; hut after some slight successes, in which- his 
brother Eleazar fell, he found himself unable to cope 
with the overwhelming forces of the enemy, and retreated 
to Jerusalem. The garrison at Bethsura was at length 
compelled to surrender, and the Syrian army then marched 
to besiege Jerusalem. 

28. Second Peace hetiveen Judas and Syria, 163, 
— The city was almost reduced, when the news reached 
Lysias that Philip, the rival guardian of Antiochus Eu- 
pator, had raised an army and seized Antioch, and taken 
upon himself the government of the empire. Accord- 
ingly, he found it necessary to conclude a peace with the 
Jews, by which Judas was appointed governor of Judaea 
under the king of Syria. 

29. Alcimus, Utah Triest, deposed; Demetrius 
Soter sends an Army against Judaea. — Menelaus, the 
high priest, w T as now dead (sect. 17, note), and Antiochus 
appointed Alcimus, or Jacimus, to be his successor, to the 
exclusion of Onias, son of that Onias who had been mur- 
dered at Antioch (sect. 17). Onias fled to Egypt, and 
obtained permission from Ptolemy Philometor to build a 
temple at Heliopolis. Thus, three temples existed — viz. 
the Samaritan at Gerizim, that of the Jews at Jerusalem, 
and that of Onias. Alcimus, however, from his profligacy 
and idolatry, was not long permitted by the people to 
exercise his office ; and by his subsequent intrigues he 
persuaded Demetrius Soter, who had now succeeded An- 
tiochus Eupator to the throne of Syria, to send a large 
invading force against Judaea under Nicanor, which was, 
however, signally defeated by Judas and his followers, 
and in the second action Nicanor was slain. 

30. Judas forms an Alliance with Rome ; slain 
in Battle, 161, — Judas now saw that no dependence 
could be placed upon the kings of Syria, and accordingly 
sent ambassadors to Rome to endeavor to form an alliance. 
The Romans decided to receive the Jews amongst their 
friends and allies, and wrote a letter to Demetrius requir- 
ing him to desist from harassing that nation, but before 
the letter could be delivered Judas was dead. On the 
death of Nicanor, Demetrius had sent Bacchides with Al- 



b. c. 161-143. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 303 

cinius a second time into Judaea at the head of a large 
army, to which Judas could only oppose a force of 3000 
men, all of whom, with the exception of eight hundred, 
fled at the approach of the enemy. But the intrepid 
leader scorned to fly, and with this handful of men he 
boldly engaged the whole army of Bacchides. By the 
impetuosity of his charge he routed the right wing of the 
enemy, but the left wing remained entire, and Judas, being 
overpowered by numbers, fell on the field of battle ; and 
all Israel mourned many days, saying, " How is the valiant 
man fallen that delivered Israel ?" 

31. Persecution revives : Jonathan T ., 

. „ Jonathan 

chosen Leader of the People, 101. — Alter Maccabeus. 
the death of Judas Maccabseus, Alcimus and BC - 16I_143 - 
his apostate party returned to power, and openly perse- 
cuted the followers of Judas ; and all the Maccabseans 
that could be found were brought before the general Bac- 
chides and cruelly tortured and put to death. Under 
these circumstances the people chose Jonathan, brother 
of Judas, for their leader, and committed themselves to 
his guidance. At first Jonathan and his brother Simon 
retired to a strong position on the banks of the Jordan, 
from whence they avenged the death of their brother 
John, who had been slain by some Arabs of the tribe of 
Jambria. Their position was, however, soon known to 
Bacchides, who accordingly assaulted their camp on the 
Sabbath day. But Jonathan exhorted his troops to re- 
member the decision of Mattathias (sect. 20, vote), and his 
forces courageously resisted the attack and slew 1000 of 
the enemy, and on finding their numbers unequal to a 
further contest, they sprang into the Jordan and escaped 
by swimming to the other side. Bacchides then fortified 
Judaea, especially Acra, and took the children of the in- 
habitants as hostages for the fidelity of their parents. 

32. Death of Alcimus ; Fresh Wars between Bac- 
chides and Jonathan, which are concluded by a 
Peace. — Alcimus, the high priest, was at length struck 
with palsy and died ; after which Bacchides returned to 
Antioch, and the dews for two years dwelt in peace un- 
der the government of Jonathan. At the expiration of 
this time Bacchides was in Conned by the opposition that 
all the Maccabaean party might be seized in a single night, 



304 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE b. c. 161-143* 

and he accordingly came to Judaea to execute the plan. 
But Jonathan discovered the plot, and put fifty of the 
conspirators to death ; but, being unable to cope with 
Bacchides, he retired and fortified a place in the wilder- 
ness, and successfully withstood a siege. Bacchides, en- 
raged at the defeat, slew the advisers who had brought 
him back to Judaea, concluded a peace with Jonathan, 
exchanged prisoners, and swore never more to molest the 
land ; and Jonathan settled in peace at Michmash, about 
nine miles north of Jerusalem, where he administered the 
laws with impartiality and pursued his schemes of refor- 
mation. 

33. Alexander JBalas, the Imjyostor, obtains Syria ; 
Jonathan made High Priest, 158. — In this year the 
famous impostor, Alexander Balas, pretended to be a son 
of Antiochus Epiphanes, and claimed the empire of Syria ; 
and being supported by the Romans, he sailed to Ptole- 
mais in Phoenicia, seized the city, and proclaimed him- 
self king of Syria. The disputes between this pretender 
and Demetrius Soter, the reigning monarch, proved of 
infinite advantage to Jonathan, as each party vied with 
the other in offers to secure his co-operation. Demetrius 
appointed him the king's general in Judaea, and offered 
him numerous immunities and privileges ; but Alexander 
Balas granted him the high priesthood, and sent him a 
purple robe and crown of gold ; and Jonathan preferred 
an alliance with the latter to accepting the proposals of 
the insincere Demetrius. 

34. Demetrius Nieator obtains the Throne; con- 
firms Jonathan in the High Priesthood. — The Syr- 
ians soon grew disaffected toward Alexander Balas, and 
Demetrius Nieator, son of Demetrius Soter, whom Alex- 
ander Balas had deposed, now asserted his claim to the 
empire, and, being assisted by Egypt, he defeated Alex- 
ander and obtained the throne. Jonathan was still in 
quiet possession of Judaea, and, being determined to ex- 
pel the garrison from Acra, he commenced a regular 
siege. Demetrius, hearing this, summoned Jonathan to 
Ptolemais, but the latter gave orders to press the siege 
during his absence, and then carried such valuable pres- 
ents as he thought would influence the king and his licen- 
tious court. Demetrius, in return, confirmed Jonathan in 



d. c. 161-143. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 305 

the high priesthood, ratified the offers of immunity from 
tribute, etc. which his father had made, and promised to 
withdraw the garrison from Acra if Jonathan would as- 
sist him in putting down a revolt at Antioch, which was 
then in a state of tumult. Jonathan despatched 3000 
men to the aid of the king, who was, however, no sooner 
relieved than he forgot his promises and refused to ex- 
empt the Jews from tribute. 

35. Jonathan assists Antiochus against Demet- 
rius. — This ingratitude of Demetrius was quickly pun- 
ished. A new claimant now appeared for the kingdom 
of Syria. Tryphon, who had been governor of Antioch 
under Alexander Balas, brought forward Antiochus, son 
of his old master, and defeated Demetrius and placed 
the young prince on the throne. He then sent an em- 
bassy to Jonathan, soliciting assistance and promising 
to fulfil the engagements which Demetrius had broken. 
Jonathan readily accepted the proposal, defeated De- 
metrius, who invaded Galilee, and reduced Joppa, Gaza, 
and Bethsura. 

36. Allies with Rome and JLacedcemon ; fortifies 
Judaea, — On returning to Judaea, Jonathan renewed the 
treaty which Judas had made with the Romans, and 
formed an alliance with the Lacedaemonians. He also 
held a council at Jerusalem to take into consideration 
the fortification of Judaea ; and at this assembly it was 
agreed that the walls of Jerusalem should be heightened 
and a line of circumvallation should be drawn round 
the fort of Acra under the superintendence of Jonathan, 
whilst Simon should have the oversight of the fortifica- 
tions throughout the country. 

37. Falls by the Treachery of Tryphon. — Mean- 
time, it appeared that Tryphon had elevated Antiochus, 
the son of Alexander Balas, to the throne, for the sole 
purpose of murdering him and usurping the crown himself, 
but whilst Jonathan remained to oppose the plot he de- 
spaired of success. Accordingly, he marched his army 
against Judaea, but being met by Jonathan with 40,000 
men, lie put on the mask of friendship, and pretended 
thai he had only come to consult about their common 
interests and to put the city of Ptolemais in Phoenicia 
into his hands. Jonathan was thus persuaded to dismiss 

26* U 



306 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE 



B. c. 143-1 3 ( 



his army and proceed with Tryphon to Ptolemais with 
only 1000 troops, but on entering the city he was taken 
prisoner and his men were slain. Tryphon then invaded 
Judaea, carrying Jonathan as a captive ; and being met 
by Simon at the head of a large army, he declared that 
he only detained Jonathan for a debt of one hundred 
talents [about £24,000], and that if the debt was paid, 
and his two sons given up as hostages, he should be re- 
leased. Simon complied, but Tryphon failed to fulfil 
his promise, and, being encouraged by messages from 
the garrison at Acra, he attempted to invade Judsea. 
Simon, however, baffled his efforts, and Tryphon at last 
retired to the district east of the Jordan surrounding 
Mount Gilead, called Galaaditis, and put Jonathan to 
death at Bascama. 

Simon Mac- ^8. His Independence confirmed by 

catweus. b. c. Demetrius. — Simon, brother of Jonathan 
and Judas, succeeded to the high priesthood 
and government on the death of the former. Meantime, 
Tryphon murdered Antiochus and proclaimed himself 
king of Syria, and Demetrius Nicator, who now wanted 
the assistance of the Jews in deposing the tyrant, con- 
firmed the authority of Simon as high priest and prince, 
and relinquished all claims for tribute, customs, and 
taxes. From this grant the Jews calculate the deliver- 
ance of their country from a foreign power, and they 
dated all their instruments and contracts by the years 
of Simon and his successors. 

39. Completes the Fortification of Judcea, and re- 
duces and levels Acra. — Simon's first measure was to 
complete the fortifications which were erecting through- 
out Judsea and to reduce some of the enemy's fortresses 
which still held out. The garrison at Acra now began 
to feel the effects of the circumvallation, and, their provis- 
ions being exhausted, they at last surrendered, and were 
permitted to leave unmolested. From the beginning of 
the revolt this garrison had occasioned infinite annoy- 
ance and trouble to Jerusalem. Simon therefore not 
only destroyed the fort, but employed three years in re- 
ducing the hill on which it stood to a level with Mount 
Moriali. He also fortified the latter, and built his palace 
within the wall, probably on the site where the castle 



b.c. 136-106. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 307 

Antonia was afterward erected, and he made his son, 
John Hyrcanus, generalissimo of all his forces. 

40. Public Memorial of his Acts; his Powers rec- 
ognized by Rome. — The state was now in a flourishing 
condition, and the people made a public acknowledgment 
of their allegiance to the Maccabees. The valiant deeds 
of Simon and his predecessors were engraved on tables 
of brass, and these were set up in a conspicuous part of 
the temple. About the same time Simon sent an em- 
bassy to the Romans, bearing a golden shield weighing 
1000 minse, and worth at least £50,000, as a present to 
the senate, who thereupon renewed the league and 
recognized his powers as high priest and prince of 
Judaea. 

41. Treacherous Invasion of Antiochus Sidetes. — 
Meantime, Demetrius Nicator had retired from before 
Tryphon to Babylon, and was subsequently taken prisoner 
by the Parthians, whilst his younger brother, Antiochus 
Sidetes, married Cleopatra, wife of Demetrius, and at- 
tempted to dispossess Tryphon. Antiochus was desirous 
of obtaining the assistance of Simon, and accordingly 
confirmed him in his authority and granted him the priv- 
ilege of coining money as an independent prince. When, 
however, he had deposed Tryphon and ascended the throne 
of Syria, he laid claim to the citadels of Jerusalem, Jop- 
pa, and Gazara (probably Gadara), demanded five hun- 
dred talents for tribute and damages, and invaded Judaea. 
But John Hyrcanus and his brother Judas, the two sons 
of Simon, defeated the general of Antiochus and obliged 
him to retreat from the country. 

42. Murder of Simon. — Antiochus Sidetes at length 
obtained the death of Simon. Ptolemy, one of his offi- 
cers and governor of Jericho, had married the daughter 
of Simon, and having concerted measures with Antiochus 
for usurping the government of Judaea, he invited Simon 
and his sons Judas and Matthias to his castle near Jeri- 
cho, and then treacherously murdered them. Messengers 
were also sent to despatch John Hyrcanus, but he fortu- 
nately escaped to Jerusalem and secured the city before 
Ptolemy could seize; it. 

4-*>. JU'sicf/cs Ptolemy. — Hyrcanus was John Tiyrca- 
now chosen by the people to succeed his JS^iotf.' ' 



308 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE 



b. c. 136-106. 



father, Simon, in the high priesthood and principality. 
He first marched against Ptolemy, and besieged him 
in a castle near Jericho ; but the latter still held the 
mother and surviving brethren of Hyrcanus in his 
clutches, and, bringing them to the Avails, threatened to 
throw them down headlong if the siege was continued. 
Hyrcanus accordingly gradually relaxed, and then raised, 
the siege ; though, according to Josephus, his mother 
loudly exhorted her son from the Avails to disregard her 
sufferings and pursue his revenge. Ptolemy then sleAV 
the mother and brethren of Hyrcanus, and fled to Phila- 
delphia in Asia Minor. 

44. Invasion of A n tiochas Sidetes ; Peace at length 
concluded with Syria. — The folloAving year Antiochus 
Sidetes invaded Judsea and besieged Hyrcanus in Jeru- 
salem, and as it Avas a sabbatical year there Avas soon such 
a scarcity of provisions that the besieged Avere reduced to 
the greatest distress. On the approach of the feast of 
tabernacles Hyrcanus requested a truce for the purpose 
of keeping it, \A T hich Antiochus most graciously granted, 
and even sent animals for the sacrifice. This conduct led 
to proposals for a peace, which Avas at length concluded, 
Hyrcanus engaging to dismantle Jerusalem and pay trib- 
ute for the tOAvns possessed by the Jews out of Judrea. 
Antiochus also required the fort of Acra to be rebuilt, 
but Hyrcanus chose rather to pay five hundred talents 
[£120,000] ; and hostages being delivered for the fulfil- 
ment of these terms, the siege was raised. 

45. Accompanies Antiochus against Parthia ; 
regains 7iis Independence, and raises the Asamo- 
nean Power. — Four years after this Antiochus in\ T aded 
Parthia to recover his brother Demetrius, and Avas accom- 
panied by Hyrcanus, avIio greatly distinguished himself in 
the Avar. Here Antiochus was slain, and Demetrius Nica- 
tor, being at length enabled to return to Syria, regained 
the kingdom. Hyrcanus seized the opportunity of these 
disturbances to deliver himself from Syria and complete- 
ly establish the independence of Judsea, and neither him- 
self nor his successors were ever afterward tributary to 
the Syrian kings. He seized several of the bordering 
cities in Syria, Phoenicia, and Arabia ; subdued the Idu- 
mseans, and obliged them to embrace the JeAvish religion ; 



b. c. 136-106. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 309 

subjugated Samaria, and destroyed the temple of Sanbal- 
lat on Mount Gerizim ; and obtained from the Romans 
an acknowledgment that the treaty which he had been 
forced to make with Antiochus Sidetes was null and void, 
being a violation of the freedom guaranteed by the sen- 
ate to the Jewish nation. Hyrcanus was thus master of 
all Judsea, Galilee, and Samaria, and having raised the 
glory of the Asamonean princes to its greatest height, he 
passed the remainder of his reign respected by the neigh- 
boring states and free from foreign war. 

46. Hyrcanus joins the Sadducees; Pharisees 
and Sadducees become Political Factions. — During 
the foregoing period two parties had arisen among the 
Jews — the Pharisees and the Sadducees. (See sects. 
94-100.) 

The Pharisees rigidly adhered to the very letter of the 
old law, and explained the Scriptures themselves by the 
light of tradition. The Sadducees, by an epicurean phil- 
osophy and a latitudinarian system of morals, had fallen 
into the opposite extreme, and affixed a mere human in- 
terpretation to Scripture, and even questioned the doc- 
trine of the immortality of the soul. The Pharisees, be- 
ing the more orthodox sect, were supported by the many ; 
the Sadducees, from the laxity of their principles, were 
favored by the wealthy few. Hyrcanus was originally a 
Pharisee, but, according to Josephus, one of that party 
once told him that he ought to resign the high priesthood 
and content himself with the civil government, because, 
as his mother had been a captive, it was uncertain whether 
lie was a descendant of Aaron or of a stranger. Hyrca- 
nus was incensed at this insult, and probably perceiving 
symptoms of disaffection amongst the whole Pharisaic 
party, and a desire to separate the offices of high priest 
and king, which he united in his own person, he left their 
sect and went over to the Sadducees. The Pharisees and 
Sadducees, from being mere religious sects, now became 
political factions. Domestic broils arose, which estranged 
the affections of a large party of Jews from Hyrcanus 
and his family ; and the factious opposition of the Phari- 
sees, first to their own princes and afterward to the Ro- 
mans, ultimately led to the declension of the Asamonean 
power, and finally to the downfall of the Jewish nation. 



310 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE b. c. 106-78. 

47. Cruelty to his Family; seizes the 
B. r c? t i06 U . 1US L Sigh Priesthood and assumes the Dia- 
dem. — The events of the succeeding reign 
are a series of domestic tragedies, which may be ascribed 
with probability to the intrigues of party and the turbu- 
lent ambition of the Pharisees. Hyrcanus had left the 
civil government to his wife, but his eldest son, Aristob- 
ulus, seized the government and put his mother in prison, 
where she perished of hunger. Having thus obtained 
the high priesthood and principality, he put the royal 
diadem on his head and assumed the title of king, being 
the first Jewish prince who had done so since the Bab- 
ylonian captivity. 

48. Conquers the Itureans : kills his brother, An- 
tigonus. — Aristobulus then admitted his brother Antig- 
onus to a share in the kingdom, but imprisoned his then 
remaining brethren. He subdued Iturea east of the Jor- 
dan, and offered the inhabitants the alternative of cir- 
cumcision or expatriation, upon which they preferred the 
former. On his return from this expedition he was seized 
with sickness, during which his queen, Salome, and her 
party excited his jealousy against Antigonus, his favorite 
brother. Accordingly, he summoned Antigonus to his 
presence unarmed, and gave orders to a guard of soldiers 
to kill him if he came in armor. But the messenger ap- 
pointed to bear the summons was seduced by the enemies 
of Antigonus to direct the prince to go to the royal castle 
in his armor, as the king desired to see it. Antigonus 
was accordingly slain, but the reproaches of conscience, 
aggravated by the recollection of the cruel murder of his 
mother, increased the disorders of Aristobulus, and he 
died the same year in the bitterest agony of mind and 
body. 

Alexander 49. Petty Wars with his Neighbors. — 

jannseus. Immediately after the death of Aristobulus 
L, his widow, Alexandra or Salome, released 
his three younger brothers from the prison in which they 
had been confined, and Alexander Jannseus, the eldest of 
them, was invested with the high priesthood and ascended 
the throne of Judaea. One of his first acts was to put 
his next brother to death, for entertaining treasonable de- 
signs, and the remainder of his reign was a series of petty 



b. c. 105-78. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 311 

wars with his neighbors, varied by civil Avar and dissen- 
sions at home. He besieged Ptolemais in Phoenicia, but 
the citizens applied for aid to Ptolemy Lathyrus, who 
had been compelled by his mother, Cleopatra, to ex- 
change the kingdom of Egypt for that of Cyprus. Ptol- 
emy Lathyrus obliged Alexander to raise the siege, and 
invaded Galilee and Judaea ; and Jannseus would prob- 
ably have been entirely ruined had not Cleopatra sent an 
army from Egypt to his assistance. Alexander subse- 
quently took Gadara, a fortified city east of the Jordan, 
but after a few other petty successes, in which he met 
with great resistance, he returned to Jerusalem without 
being in the least enriched by his conquests. 

50. Civil Dissensions fomented by the Pharisees. 
— The heroic line of the Maccabsean princes had ended 
with John Hyrcanus, and we now enter upon a period in 
which the fury of faction had converted the Pharisees 
into the most dangerous enemies of the state, and ulti- 
mately led to civil war. At the feast of tabernacles, 
whilst Alexander Jannanis was officiating as high priest 
at the altar, he was pelted with citrons by the populace 
and insulted by the most opprobrious language, implying 
that he was descended from a slave and unworthy of 
being high priest or king. The royal guards then fell 
upon the people and slaughtered 6000 persons, and Alex- 
ander, to prevent a recurrence of the like insult, railed 
in the court of the priests from the approach of the 
crowd, and took upward of 6000 mercenaries into his 
pay. 

51. Conquers JMoab and Gilead, but loses his Army 
in Gaulonitis. — Alexander now endeavored to divert 
the attention of the Jews from their intestine divisions by 
engaging in war. Accordingly, he succeeded in making 
the lands of Moab and Gilead tributary, but three years 
afterward lost nearly all his army in an expedition against 
Gaulonitis, a district in the northern division of Bataniea, 
east of the Jordan. 

52. Rebellion of the Pharisees for Six, years ; the 
Army of Alexander destroyed. — When Alexander re- 
turned to Jerusalem after this disaster the discontent of 
the Pharisees was shared by the whole nation, and the 
Jews openly rebelled against his government. For six 



312 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE b. c. 105-78. 

years, in spite of frequent defeats, they maintained a 
bloody civil war, and when at length he sought an ac- 
commodation they desired him to cut his throat, as these 
were the only terms upon which they could be at peace 
with him. They sent to Demetrius Eucerus, king of 
Syria, for succors, who accordingly, with a powerful army 
of Jews and Syrians, overthrew Alexander and cut to 
pieces his mercenaries to a man, whilst most of the Jews 
of his party perished, and Alexander himself was forced 
to fly to the mountains. 

53. Alexander regains the Kingdom ; his Cruelty. 
• — Six thousand of the rebels now pitied the misfortunes 
of their king and espoused his cause ; and Demetrius, 
fearing a still greater defection, returned to Damascus. 
Jannseus was again successful, and at length obtained a 
decisive victory, in which the greater part of the rebels 
w 7 ere slain. The remainder took refuge in the fortress of 
Bethsura, which he besieged and took the following year, 
and carried the prisoners to Jerusalem. But these suc- 
cesses were sullied by his barbarous cruelty. He cruci- 
fied eight hundred of the captives in one day, and mas- 
sacred their wives and children before their eyes, whilst 
he gave a feast to his wives and concubines in view of the 
horrid scenes, that they might glut their eyes with the 
spectacle. 

54. His Hying Advice to his Queen. — The remain- 
der of the rebels now fled the country, and Alexander 
spent three years in recovering the fortresses which had 
revolted during the civil war, and also extended his con- 
quests beyond the Jordan. He then returned victorious 
to Jerusalem, and gave himself up to luxury and drunk- 
enness, which brought on a quartan ague that subse- 
quently proved fatal, and he died whilst besieging Ba- 
gaba, east of the Jordan. In his last moments he advised 
Alexandra his queen to conceal his death until the cap- 
ture of the fortress, and then, on returning to Jerusalem, 
to convene the Pharisees, and first, to offer to govern the 
kingdom according to their counsels ; and secondly, to 
resign his dead body to their discretion, whether to treat 
it with ignominy or with respect. She followed this ad- 
vice, and the funeral obsequies of her husband were cele- 
brated with more splendor than those of any of his 



B. c. 78-63. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 313 

predecessors, whilst she herself was quietly established in 
the government. 

55. Domination of the Pharisees ; Hyr- Queen 
canus High Priest, — Alexandra was now Alexandra, 
settled on the throne, and appointed her eldest B ' c ' 78 " 69 ' 
son, Hyrcanus, to be high priest, but she gave up the 
reins of government to the Pharisees, and thus, as Jo- 
sephus observes, Alexandra had the kingdom and the 
Pharisees the power. The exiles of their party were now 
recalled, and revenge was executed upon those who had 
persuaded Alexander Jannseus to crucify the eight hun- 
dred rebels. 

56. Aristobulus joins the Opposite Party. — Hyr- 
canus, the high priest, was of a weak disposition, and did 
not oppose their proceedings ; but his younger brother, 
Aristobulus, incensed at the persecutions of his father's 
former adherents, put himself at the head of the party 
opposed to the Pharisees, and openly remonstrated with 
the queen, Alexandra, against their proceedings. The 
queen then put some fortresses into the hands of Aristob- 
ulus and his friends, where they might find refuge from 
the tyranny of the Pharisees ; but Aristobulus was subse- 
quently sent on a foreign expedition, and took that oppor- 
tunity of securing the affections of the army. Alexandra 
died at the age of seventy-three, after a reign of nine 
years. 

57. Struggles between Hyrcanus and 
Aristobulus.— The reign of Hyrcanus II. f%7™* "' 
did not exceed three months, for his younger 

brother Aristobulus had already obtained the affections 
of the .army, and the people, being weary of the tyranny 
of the Pharisees, were ready for a change of govcrnm lit. 
A battle ensued between the forces raised by the Phari- 
sees in favor of Hyrcanus and the partisans of Aristob- 
ulus, after which Hyrcanus resigned the kingdom and 
high priesthood, and was contented to lead a retired life 
under the protection of his brother. 

58. Anti pater, Father of Herod, es- Aristobulus 
pauses the Cause of Hyrcanus. — Aristob- n. b.c. 
ul us N. now ascended the throne, but soon 

found a more subtle enemy than his imbecile brother. 
Antipateb, the father of IFfj-od the Great, an Idumaean 

27 



314 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE b. c. 69-63. 

by birth, but Jew by religion, had been brought up in 
the court of Alexander Jannseus, and contracted a firm 
friendship with Hyrcanus, the heir-apparent to the crown. 
The deposition of the latter frustrated his hopes, but he 
insinuated to Hyrcanus that his life was in danger from 
Aristobulus, and at length prevailed on him to fly to 
Aretas, king of Arabia letrsea. 

59. Antipater intrigues with Aretas, who defeats 
Aristobulus. — Antipater had previously engaged Aretas 
to furnish an army for the assistance of Hyrcanus, and 
accordingly the Arabian king led 50,000 men into Judaea, 
and, being joined by the Jewish partisans of Hyrcanus, 
he defeated Aristobulus and forced him to retire to the 
temple, where he besieged him. 

60. Homan Interference ; Pompey arbitrates be- 
tween Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, — Meantime, Pom- 
pey was carrying on his conquests in Asia, and had sent 
a division of his army under Scaurus into Syria. The 
two brothers sent offers to Scaurus for his assistance, who 
accepted those of Aristobulus, and ordered Aretas to re- 
tire, under pain of an invasion. After this Pompey re- 
duced Coele-Syria, and was met at Damascus by ambas- 
sadors both from the Jewish nation and the two brothers 
to request that he would decide the quarrel. He accord- 
ingly subsequently listened to the statement of the am- 
bassadors from Judsea, and permitted the brothers to 
plead their cause before him. The representatives of the 
Jewish people declared their wish to be subject to priests 
only, and not to kings. Hyrcanus pleaded the injustice 
of his younger brother in depriving him of the crown, 
whilst Aristobulus urged the imbecility of Hyrcanus and 
his evident unfitness for government. Pompey, however, 
would not openly declare his sentiments, though he saw 
that the weakness of Hyrcanus presented the fewest 
obstacles to the extension of the Roman conquests ; and 
Aristobulus, perceiving clearly that the decision would 
not be in his favor, withdrew to make preparations of 
defence. 

61. Pompey takes Jerusalem, and restores Hyr- 
canus II. to the throne. — After this Pompey reduced 
Aretas and took Petra, the capital of Arabia Petrsea, and 
then marched against Aristobulus, whom he found in the 



B. c. 63-40. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 315 

frontier fortress of Alexandrium. Pompey summoned 
the Jewish prince to his presence, who accordingly came 
down and had several interviews with him, but was at 
length required to sign an order for the surrender of all 
the fortresses to the Komans before he quitted the camp. 
Aristobulus now saw that negotiations were useless, and 
was no sooner dismissed than he fled to Jerusalem and 
prepared for a siege. On the approach of Pompey he 
submitted, and came out and offered a sum of money to 
prevent a war. Pompey accepted the proposal, and sent 
Gabinius to receive the money, but the latter found the 
gates shut and returned to the camp, and Aristobulus was 
])ut in chains. Pompey then marched in person to Jeru- 
salem ; the gates were opened by the party of Hyrcanus, 
whilst that of Aristobulus withdrew into the temple, and 
for three months sustained a siege. Pompey at length 
found that, whilst the Jews would resist an attack on the 
Sabbath day, they would not hinder the besieging works. 
On that day, therefore, he advanced the battering-rams 
and filled up the ditches, and at last took the place by 
assault and slew 12,000 of the Jews, including many 
priests, whose blood was mingled with the blood of their 
sacrifices. He then entered the temple and viewed the 
sanctuary and " Holy of Holies," but left the sacred ves- 
sels untouched, though it may be observed that he, who 
had hitherto experienced the greatest successes, never 
prospered in any of his undertakings after this profana- 
tion. He appointed Hyrcanus to be high priest and 
prince of the country, but on condition that he should 
submit to the Komans and pay tribute, and that he 
should not assume the diadem nor extend his territories 
beyond their ancient boundaries. Pompey then took 
Aristobulus and his two sons, Alexander and Antigonus, 
prisoners to Rome, to grace his triumph ; but they sub- 
sequently escaped at different periods, and caused great 
disturbances. 

02. Roman Supremacy; Antipater at n rpanilsII 
the Head of Affairs. — The restoration of Hyr- (restored). 
(Minis II. to the throne was purely nominal, B - c - 63-40 - 
for Antipater was the actual governor of Judaea. But 
for the future the Jewish state was entirely dependent on 
Home, and this yoke was confirmed by the subsequent 



316 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE b. c. 63-40. 

policy of Antipater and his sons, who followed the general 
maxim of entire devotion to the Roman power, in order 
to succeed in wholly removing the reigning family of the 
Maccabees. 

63. Alexander, Son of Aristobulus, invades Ju- 
dma ; defeated by Antipater and the Romans, — 
Alexander, the eldest son of Aristobulus, had escaped 
from Pompey whilst being carried prisoner to Rome, and 
now reappeared in Judaea at the head of 10,000 infantry 
and 1500 horse, took several fortresses, and ravaged the 
country. Hyrcanus was obliged to apply to Gabinius, the 
Roman proconsul of Syria, for assistance, who thereupon 
sent some troops into Judaea under the celebrated Mark 
Antony, whilst he prepared to follow with a larger army. 
Mark Antony united his forces with those of Antipater 
and Hyrcanus, defeated Alexander, and compelled him 
to retire to the fortress of Alexandrium. Gabinius now 
arrived, and by the intervention of the mother of Alexan- 
der he made peace with the latter, on condition of his 
surrendering Alexandrium and the other fortresses which 
he had taken. 

64. Gabinius changes the Government to an Aris- 
tocracy ; Constitution of the Sanhedrims. — Gabinius 
now went to Jerusalem, and confirmed Hyrcanus in the 
high priesthood, but changed the government from a mon- 
archy to an aristocracy, probably at the request of the 
Jews themselves, who had formerly desired such a change 
from Pompey (sect. 60). Hitherto, justice had been ad- 
ministered throughout Judaea by two Sanhedrims or tri- 
bunals. The Lesser Sanhedrim consisted either of twenty- 
three or of seven judges,* and existed in every city ; the 
Greater Sanhedrim,^ of which the high priest was presi- 

* The Lesser Sanhedrim. — The Talmud says that this smaller court 
consisted of twenty-three members, but Josephus, who must have been 
intimately acquainted with all the judicial institutions of his nation, 
does not mention this smaller council, but says that the court next below 
the Sanhedrim was composed of seven members. Several attempts 
have been made to reconcile the two accounts, but without success, and 
it seems now generally agreed that the account of Josephus is to be 
preferred. 

f The Greater Sanhedrim, which appears to have been established 
during the reigns of the first Maccabees, included amongst its members, 
1st, chief priests — that is, ex-high priests — and the heads of the twenty- 
four classes of priests; 2d, elders, or princes of the tribes, and heads 



B. c. 63-40. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 317 

dent, was composed of seventy or seventy-two persons, 
and sat only at Jerusalem, and tried all the appeal cases 
brought up from the Lesser Sanhedrims. By this constitu- 
tion Jerusalem was the chief place of authority, and the 
principal ecclesiastical and judicial powers were neces- 
sarily vested in the high priest, apart from the royal 
dignity which the Maccabrean princes had previously 
enjoyed. Gabinius now established five independent but 
Great Sanhedrims — at Jerusalem, Jericho, Gadara, Ama- 
thus, and Sepphoris — and thus transferred all the civil 
powers of Hyrcanus to the nobles, and deprived the nation 
of a common centre of union. This form of government 
continued until b. c. 44, when Julius Csesar restored Hyr- 
canus to his former power. 

65. Defeat and Death of Aristobulus and his Son 
Alexander. — Aristobulus at length escaped from Rome, 
and raised au army, but was defeated by Gabinius and 
taken prisoner ; and his son Alexander, who repeated the 
attempt whilst Gabinius was invading Egypt, met with 
similar ill-success on the return of the Roman general. 
Gabinius was subsequently superseded in the government 
of Syria by Crassus, who plundered the temple of 10,000 
talents. In the civil wars between Pompey and Caesar, 
Aristobulus and Alexander espoused the cause of the 
latter ; but Aristobulus, who was released by Caesar, and 
sent with two legions to promote his interests in Judaea, 
was poisoned on his way by the adherents of Pompey, and 
his son Alexander, who had raised forces in Judaea in ex- 
pectation of the arrival of his father, was carried to Anti- 
och and beheaded after a formal trial. 

66. Antipater assists the Romans ; appointed "Pro- 
curator of Judcea by Julius Ccesar. — Meantime, An- 
tipater was using every means to ingratiate himself with 
the Romans, and was rapidly rising in power and distinc- 
tion. In B. C. 56 he had greatly assisted Gabinius and 
Mark Antony in the invasion of Egypt, and after the 
death of Pompey, in B.C. 48, he warmly espoused the 
cause of Julius Ciesar, and brought to his aid in the 

of the family associations (sect. 1:54); and 3d, scribes, or learned men. 
All the elders and scribes, however, did not hold a seat, hut became 
members either by election or by a nomination from the ruling execu- 
tive authority. 

27* 



318 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE b. c. 63-40. 

Egyptian campaign the forces concentrated in Judsea, 
Idumsea, and part of Arabia. In return, Csesar refused 
to listen to the claims of Antigonus, the only surviving 
son of Aristobulus, abolished the aristocratical constitu- 
tion of Gabinius, restored the supreme authority to Hyr- 
canus, and made Antipater procurator of Judsea under 
the latter; and he subsequently confirmed Hyrcanus 
in the high priesthood and ethnarchy, and remitted the 
tribute to be paid to the Eomans during the sabbatical 
year. 

67. Rise of the Herodians ; Herod defies the San- 
hedrim. — Antipater had now four sons grown up — Pha- 
sael, whom he made governor of Jerusalem ; Herod, whom 
he appointed governor of Galilee ; Joseph ; and Pheroras ; 
together with a daughter named Salome. The prosperity 
of Antipater and his family now rendered them odious to 
the Jews of the aristocratic party. Herod, by his heroism 
and enterprise against the banditti of his district, had 
gained both the admiration of the people and the esteem 
of Sextus Csesar, a relative of Julius Csesar, who had been 
invested with the government of Syria. But the popu- 
larity of Herod aroused the jealousy of the aristocracy. 
He had put the leader of the robbers to death on his own 
authority and without any formal trial, and his enemies 
persuaded Hyrcanus to summon him to Jerusalem to 
answer for his conduct before the Sanhedrim. Herod 
came clothed in purple, attended by his guards, and bear- 
ing a menacing letter from Sextus Csesar commanding 
the Sanhedrim to acquit him. The assembly was over- 
aAved, but Samias stepped boldly forward, arraigned him 
for his crime and presumption, and predicted that the 
day would come when Herod would refuse them the par- 
don which they were now but too ready to extend to him. 
(See sect. 74.) The Sanhedrim now seemed inclined to 
act, but Hyrcanus adjourned the sitting, and thus gave 
Herod the opportunity to fly to Damascus ; but it was 
with great difficulty that the youthful general was after- 
ward dissuaded by his father and brother from marching 
an army to Jerusalem to avenge the insult. 

68. Julius Ccesar assassinated, 44 ; Antipater 
poisoned by Malichus. — The assassination of Julius 
Csesar, which took place shortly after, threw the Roman 



e. c. 62-40. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 319 

empire into the greatest confusion. Cassius, one of the 
conspirators, seized Syria, and taxed the territory of Hyr- 
canus at seven hundred talents, one half of which Antip- 
ater commissioned his sons Phasael and Herod to raise, 
and entrusted the collection of the other half to Malichus, 
a nobleman who was attached to the interests of Hyrcanus. 
Malichus failed in procuring the proper supply, and would 
have been put to death, had not Antipater paid one hun- 
dred talents out of the treasury of Hyrcanus. But 
shortly after, Malichus, who thus owed his life to Antipa- 
ter, formed a party against his preserver, and poisoned 
him at a banquet, and seized Jerusalem ; but he met with 
a just punishment, for through the interference of Phasael 
and Herod he was afterward put to death by the Roman 
garrison at Tyre. 

69. Hyrcanus joins the Faction of JSIalichus, but 
is reconciled by Herod's espousing Mariamne, — But 
the defeat of Brutus and Cassius at Philippi deprived the 
sons of Antipater of their strongest support, and the 
party formed by Malichus continued their opposition 
after the death of their leader. This faction at length 
gained over Hyrcanus by arousing his jealousy, but the 
sons of Antipater upbraided him with his desertion, and 
the differences between them were speedily removed by 
Herod's espousing Mariamne, the beautiful granddaugh- 
ter of Hyrcanus, and thus connecting himself with the 
Maccabsean line. 

70. Faction of Malichus headed by Antigonus, 
42, 41. — On the defection of Hyrcanus the adverse 
party placed Antigonus, the only surviving son of Aris- 
tobulus, at their head, and even persuaded the Roman 
governor of Damascus to enforce the claims of the latter 
to the throne of Judaea. But Antigonus was totally de- 
feated by Herod, and compelled for a period to relin- 
quish his purpose. The next year the discontented party 
sent a deputation to Mark Antony to complain that Pha- 
sael and Herod were undermining the authority of Hyr- 
canus. Meantime, however, Herod had reminded Antony 
of the services which his father Antipater had formerly 
rendered in the Egyptian expedition (sect. (M), and 
had conciliated the Triumviri by valuable presents, and 
thus induced the latter to disregard the complaints of 



320 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE b. c. 40-37. 

a faction and to make him and his brother Phasael 
tetrarchs of Palestine. 

71. Parthians jylace Antigonus on the TJirone ; 
Herod escapes to Home, 40, — Antony now proceeded 
to Egypt, where he wasted his time in luxurious ease and 
dalliance with Cleopatra, leaving the aifairs of Syria and 
Asia Minor to fall into the utmost confusion. The peo- 
ple of Syria, exhausted by successive exactions, refused 
to pay further tribute. The Parthians, under their king's 
son, Pacorus, marched to aid the revolt, and after master- 
ing Syria, Pacorus was induced, by the offer of 1000 tal- 
ents and five hundred female slaves, to assist in placing 
Antigonus on the throne. An undecisive struggle en- 
sued between the forces of the Parthians and those of 
the two brothers, after which Phasael and Hyrcanus 
were induced, contrary to the advice of Herod, to visit 
the Parthian governor of Syria and submit the dispute 
to his arbitration. The Parthian governor, however, 
treacherously put them both in chains ; Phasael com- 
mitted suicide, Hyrcanus was barbarously mutilated to 
incapacitate him from exercising the high priesthood, 
whilst Herod escaped from Jerusalem and hastened to 
Koine. 

Antigonus. 72. Herod obtains the Kingdom from 

b.c. 40-37. fj ie Triumvirate. — At Kome, Herod had 
intended to request the Triumvirate — Octavius Caesar, 
Antony, and Lepidus — to confer the throne of Judaea on 
Aristobulus, brother of Mariamne, but he found Antony 
so willing to advance his interests that a decree was ob- 
tained from the senate appointing himself king of the 
Jews. 

73. lieduces Antigonus ; End of the Maccabcean 
Dynasty, 37. — Herod now returned to Jerusalem, 
raised an army, and carried on the war against Antig- 
onus. The Romans, who had already driven the Par- 
thians beyond the Euphrates, now assisted him in obtain- 
ing the throne, and after three years he had besieged and 
taken Jerusalem and gained possession of Judaea. Dur- 
ing the siege, which lasted six months, Herod endeavored 
to conciliate the people by consummating his marriage 
with Mariamne, and thus contracting an affinity with the 
Maccabsean family, but Antigonus was sent in chains to 



b. c. 37-4. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 321 

Antioch, where he was executed by Antony as a common 
malefactor. Thus ignominiously ended the dynasty of 
the Maccabees, one hundred and twenty-nine years from 
the commencement of the authority of Judas Maccabseus, 
and one hundred and twenty-six years from the acknow- 
ledgment of his power by Antiochus Eupator. 

III. History of the Jews under the Herodians to the Com- 
mencement of New Testament History. 

74. Massacres Jits Opponents and Pro- H erod the 
pitiates Antony. — Immediately after Herod Great b. c. 
had taken Jerusalem and ascended the throne 

it was necessary that he should confirm his authority in 
Judsea and discharge his obligations to Mark Antony. 
In effecting the former his conduct was marked by cru- 
elty and revenge. All the Sanhedrim were massacred 
except Pollio and Samias, who had counselled the sur- 
render of the city, and all the adherents of Antigonus 
who could be discovered were summarily put to death. 
Meantime, the Romans, exasperated at the length of the 
siege, had filled Jerusalem with bloodshed and rapine. 
Herod declared that they would make his kingdom a 
desert, and paid them a large sum of money to desist. 
Nevertheless, he found means, by forcing contributions 
from the wealthy and confiscating the property of the 
slain, to send sufficient plunder to Antony as would in 
part discharge his obligation. 

75. Appoints Ananel High Priest. — The office of 
high priest was now vacant by the execution of Antig- 
onus and mutilation of Hyrcanus, who returned to Ju- 
daea, but was put to death a few years afterward on a 
suspicion of treason. According to hereditary succession, 
it belonged of right to Aristobulus, brother of Mariamne, 
for whom Herod had at first intended to ask the kingdom ; 
but the king was afraid lest the influence attached to the 
office should prove dangerous to himself, and, not being 
able to undertake it in his own person, he gave it to 
an obscure Babylonian priest named Ananel. 

76. Aristobulus obtains the Office, but is Drowned, 
— The pride of Alexandra, the mother of Mariamne and 
Aristobulus, was now aroused at this insult. She appealed 

v 



322 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE b. c. 37-4 

to Cleopatra, who immediately began to interest Antony 
in the matter, and Herod found it necessary to depose 
Ananel and elevate Aristobulus to the high priesthood. 
But the latter soon excited the fatal jealousy of the 
monarch. Aristobulus was tall and eminently handsome, 
and exhibited in his countenance the noble qualities and 
lineaments of the Maccabsean race ; and at the feast of 
tabernacles, whilst officiating at the altar in the splen- 
did robes of his office, the assembled multitude burst into 
loud acclamations of joy and goodwill. After the festival 
Herod was entertained by Alexandra near Jericho, and 
at his instigation Aristobulus bathed in the midst of his 
attendants and acquaintance, and in a pretended sport 
was drowned after repeated immersion. 

77. Herod summoned by Antony. — Herod affected 
to shed tears at the accident, but Alexandra was con- 
vinced of his participation in the murder, and again ap- 
plied to Cleopatra. The latter had now joined Antony 
at Laodicea in Syria, and through her innnence Antony 
was persuaded to summon Herod to Laodicea to answer 
for his conduct. Herod was obliged to obey, but by a 
profusion of gifts so propitiated Antony that on his 
arrival he was immediately acquitted. 

78. First Secret Instructions respecting Mari- 
amne. — Before Herod left Jerusalem he privately in- 
structed his uncle Joseph (husband of his sister Salome) 
to put Mariamne to death in case he should be con- 
demned, as he feared, lest Antony should make her his 
partner. Joseph foolishly divulged the secret to Mari- 
amne as a proof of her husband's love. Meantime, Sa- 
lome, who was the firebrand of the family, had become 
indignant at the proud treatment she received from Ma- 
riamne, and on the return of Herod insinuated to the lat- 
ter that Mariamne had carried on an illicit intercourse 
with Joseph. Mariamne soon persuaded Herod of the 
unfounded nature of the charge, but subsequently be- 
trayed her knowledge of the secret instructions he had 
given to Joseph. This he considered to be a proof of 
her guilt, and, though he restrained himself from put- 
ting her to death, yet he immediately ordered the ex- 
ecution of Joseph. 

79. Fall of Antony at Actium ; Herod conciliates 



b. c. 37-4. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 323 

Augustus, and is confirmed on the Tlirone, — In B. c. 

31, Antony met with a decisive overthrow at Actium. 
Herod immediately sent a special message exhorting 
him to slay Cleopatra, seize her treasures and kingdom, 
and thus raise another army with which to contend for 
empire. Antony, however, seemed bent on his own ruin, 
and Herod obtained an audience with Augustus at Rhodes. 
In this interview he boldly acknowledged all he had done, 
and all he would have done, for Antony, and even stated 
the last counsels he had given to that infatuated man ; 
and having thus enabled Augustus to judge of his fidel- 
ity to others, he plainly offered him the same friendship 
and engaged to be equally faithful. This manly frank- 
ness, seconded by liberal presents, obtained the favor of 
Augustus and secured the kingdom to Herod, whose do- 
minions included the whole of the territories possessed by 
the late Maccabees, and were divided into five districts — 
namely, West of the Jordan — 1. Judrea ; 2. Samaria ; 3. 
Galilee. East — 4. Persea.* South — 5. Idumsea. And 
when Augustus visited Herod some years afterward he 
was received with the most royal liberality and mag- 
nificence. 

80. Second Secret Instructions respecting Mari- 
amne; her Execution. — Before Herod left Jerusalem 
this second time he committed Mariamne and her mother 
Alexandra to the care of his friend Soemus, with similar 
directions to those he had previously given to Joseph — 
viz. that if Augustus compassed his death, Mariamne and 
Alexandra should not be permitted to survive him. But 
Soemus was induced by the entreaties of the women, by 
their kind presents, and by his own belief that Herod 

* Division of Peraea. — Percea, which signifies the country on the oppo- 
site side, was a general name for any district belonging to or closely 
connected with a country from the main part of which it was separated 
by a sea or river. The name Perxa was therefore applied in its more 
extended sense to the whole territory stretching from the river Arnon 
to .Mount Hermon, between the Jordan and the desert, and was sub- 
divided into eight districts or cantons — viz. 1. Per 89 a, in the more 
limited sense, which only extended from the Arnon to the Jabbok ; 2. 
Qilead, or Qalaaditis; 3. Decapolis, or Ten Cities, of which little is 
known for certain; 1. Gaulonitis : 5. Batanea, the ancient Ibishan; 
fi. Ituraia or Auranitis; 7. Trachonitis ; S. Abilene, in the extreme 
north, among the mountains of Anti-Libanus between Baalbcc and 
Damascus. 



324 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE b. c. 37-4. 

would never return in safety, to reveal the orders for their 
destruction. Accordingly, when Herod came back to Je- 
rusalem after his interview with Augustus he was received 
by Mariamne with coldness and dislike. For a whole 
year the king fluctuated between love and resentment, but 
at length Mariamne brought matters to a crisis by point- 
edly refusing to return his love, and by upbraiding him 
with the murder of her grandfather and brother. Salome, 
actuated by a fiendish desire of revenge, seized this oppor- 
tunity for suborning the cup-bearer of Herod to assert 
that Mariamne had bribed him to administer a potion to 
her husband. The king immediately put his wife's con- 
fidential eunuch to the torture, thinking he must be aware 
of the cause of her altered conduct ; but the eunuch dis- 
closed nothing relating to the potion, but admitted that 
her estrangement arose from her knowledge of the orders 
with which Soemus had been entrusted. Herod w r as now 
persuaded that nothing but an illicit intercourse with 
Mariamne could have w T rung the secret from so faithful 
an officer as Soemus. Accordingly, he ordered the latter 
to be instantly executed, and then summoned his more 
immediate friends to try his wife for administering the 
potion. Mariamne was found guilty and condemned to 
death, but Herod commuted the sentence to imprison- 
ment. His bloodthirsty sister Salome, however, persuaded 
him that her death was necessary as a security against a 
popular tumult, and she was led away to execution. Ma- 
riamne met her death with a firmness which became her 
race, though her own mother Alexandra, from the fear of 
sharing in her punishment, assailed her on the way with 
the most violent and indecent reproaches. The vehement 
love of Herod for this beautiful princess outlived his 
jealousy, and his remorse could not be removed by the 
pleasures of the table or the chase. He retired from so- 
ciety, and was at length seized with fever and delirium. 
Alexandra, thinking it impossible for him to recover, 
laid a plot for seizing the government, but it was dis- 
covered to Herod by the officers whom she endeavored to 
corrupt, and he instantly ordered her to be put to death. 

81. Ilerod introduces Heathen Customs and rub- 
lie Games. — When Herod had recovered his health he 
sedulously endeavored to remove the prejudices of the 



b. c. 37-4. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 325 

Jews and Romanize Judsea. He instituted horse- and 
chariot-races and public games in honor of Augustus, and 
built a theatre and amphitheatre in Jerusalem in which 
celebrated musicians contended for victory, animals were 
exhibited, and gladiators fought with wild beasts and with 
each other. 

82. Conspiracy of Ten. — By these proceedings, and 
especially by the adornment of the public places with the 
trophies of the conquests of Augustus, Herod had acted in 
direct opposition to the Jewish prejudices, and appeared 
as the enemy of their country and their God. Ten of 
the most zealous malcontents formed a conspiracy to as- 
sassinate him in the theatre. The plot was discovered, 
the conspirators were arrested with daggers concealed 
about their persons, and were immediately put to death 
with the most cruel tortures. 

83. Increases the Fortifications, erects Public 
Works, and rebuilds the Temple. — Herod now de- 
termined to increase his fortifications as a security for 
himself and a provision against rebellions, and to display 
his power and gratify his magnificence by the erection 
of costly and splendid public works. In Jerusalem he 
already possessed two fortresses, the palace and castle of 
Antonia, which had been named after Antony. He now 
rebuilt the city of Samaria, and bestowed on it the name 
of Sebaste in honor of Augustus, and erected a temple in 
it which he dedicated to Caesar. He converted the Tower 
of Strato into a grand city and seaport, and built an arti- 
ficial harbor with moles and breakwater and surrounded 
with a wall and towers, and to this new city he gave the 
name of Ca^sarea. He also erected at the source of the 
Jordan, called Panium, a temple of white marble, which 
he dedicated to Augustus. And at length he was led to 
form the bold design of pulling down the old temple at 
Jerusalem, which had sustained great damage during the 
civil war.-, and of rebuilding it entirely on a more magni- 
ficent scale. (An account of this stupendous work may be 
found at sect. 360, note.) 

84. Famine in Jud&a; Herod'' s Generosity. — In 
the thirteenth year of the reign a dreadful (amine visited 
Ju(hea and Samaria, during which Herod made such sac- 
rifices to relieve his people, and exhibited such noble 

28 



326 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE b. c. 37-4. 

generosity, that had not his crimes branded his memory 
with the indelible mark of tyranny he would have ranked 
amongst the kings who had been benefactors to their sub- 
jects. He stripped his palaces of every ornament of sil- 
ver and gold, and, loading a vessel with the spoils, sent it 
to EgyjDt to purchase corn, and for a long time fed the 
w T hole mass of the population at his own cost. By his 
kind interference also Agrippa relieved the Jewish colo- 
nies of Asia from the exactions they suffered, and obtained 
a restitution of the privileges which had been previously 
confirmed to them by the Komans. 

85. Intrigues of Salome and Antipater; Trial 
and Execution of Alexander and Aristobulus, the 
Sons of Mariamne. — Herod ruled from his confirmation 
on his throne by Augustus until his death, a period of 
nearly thirty years, undisturbed by a single war, for the 
occasional hostilities with the robbers of Trachonitis and 
the Arab chiefs that supported them scarcely deserve the 
name of warfare. But his prosperity as a sovereign is 
strangely contrasted with the long series of domestic trage- 
dies that mark the latter years of his life. The details 
of this complicated tissue of crimes and intrigues will be 
found in the pages of Josephus, but the following is a 
summary of the events : Herod, though not wanting in 
natural affection for his children, was still more jealous 
of the maintenance of his authority as monarch, and 
when the latter was threatened his ungovernable passions 
quickly overcame the dictates of Nature and justice. By 
Mariamne he had two sons, Alexander and Aristobulus, 
whom he sent to be educated for three years at Rome 
under the immedate inspection of Augustus, and at the 
expiration of that time he himself brought them back to 
Judsea. The return of the young men diffused general 
satisfaction, but aroused the fears of Salome and of all 
those who had participated in the condemnation of their 
mother Mariamne. The latter party accordingly spread 
reports that the young men disliked their father, and only 
regarded him as the murderer of their mother ; and at 
length Herod was informed by his sister Salome and 
brother Pheroras of the pretended revengeful temper of 
the sons of Mariamne. Herod was exceedingly afflicted 
at the intelligence. He had a son, Antipater, by his first 



B. c. 37-4. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 327 

wife, Doris, born before he ascended the throne, and he 
now sent for Antipater to court, and hoped by taking him 
into favor to repress the rebellious spirit of Alexander 
and Aristobulus. Antipater followed the policy which 
his aunt and uncle had commenced, and did his utmost 
to irritate Herod against the sons of Mariamne. Being 
subsequently sent to Rome, he wrote frequent letters from 
thence to exasperate the king and awaken his fears, and 
at length Herod carried the two brothers to Rome to 
accuse them before Csesar. Augustus heard the charge, 
but the eloquence of Alexander moved the compassion of 
the emperor, and by the advice of the latter a reconcilia- 
tion was effected. Herod and his three sons then re- 
turned home together, but Salome and Antipater were 
soon enabled to persuade the king that Alexander and 
Aristobulus were plotting against him, and he sought and 
obtained permission to accuse them before a Roman coun- 
cil at Berytus. The Roman governors of Syria, the mem- 
bers of Herod's family, and one hundred and fifty of the 
chief persons of Syria now assembled together, and Herod 
appeared before them and accused his two sons with all 
the vehemence of a bitter enemy. The two young men, 
however, could only be proved guilty of uttering some 
reproachful speeches, and not of any malice or conspiracy 
against their father. Part of the assembly confirmed to 
Herod the power of life and death over his sons, but did 
not consider that their crimes deserved a capital punish- 
ment ; but the majority decreed that the princes deserved 
to die ; and, though Herod did not immediately act upon 
this decision, yet learning shortly afterward of the interest 
taken by the people in the fate of the criminals, he became 
satisfied of their guilt and ordered them to be executed. 

86. Conspiracy and Trial of Antipater, — An- 
tipater was now afraid lest Herod should discover his par- 
ticipation in the destruction of the sons of Mariamne, 
and accordingly plotted with Pheroras, the brother of 
Herod, to despatch the king by poison. Antipater then 
removed to Rome, that he might not be suspected of 
taking a part in the murder, but meantime Pheroras fell 
sick and died, and Herod, being informed that the latter 
had been poisoned by his wife, set on foot the most strict 
investigation, and at length discovered the plot against 



328 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE b. c. 37-4. 

himself. Antipater returned without suspecting any dan- 
ger, but on reaching Sebaste was seized and brought be- 
fore the council. His guilt was distinctly proved, and he 
was condemned and throAvn into prison, and an embassy 
was despatched to Csesar to request his final decision in 
the matter. 

87. Golden Eagle pulled down at Jerusalem. — 
Whilst the embassy was at Rome, Herod was attacked 
^y a violent and painful disease. Judas and Matthias, 
who were the chief among the teachers of the law, be- 
lieved that he could never recover, and induced the people 
to throw down the golden eagle which Herod had erected 
over the temple contrary to the laws and customs of the 
Jewish nation. The conspirators were seized, and though 
Herod was so ill that he could not sit up, yet he assembled 
his council, who recommended the punishment of the 
ringleaders, and Herod ordered them to be burned. 

88. Herod's Sickness and Cruelty, — Herod's disease 
soon increased in violence. The lower parts of his body 
ulcerated, and he was frequently thrown into strong con- 
vulsions. He tried the warm baths of Callirrhoe, but 
without deriving any benefit, and his torments, instead 
of moving him to repentance, incited him to fresh cruel- 
ties. 

89. Shuts up the Principal Jews in the Hippo- 
drome ; Execution of Antipater. — Maddened by his 
agony, Herod shut up the principal Jews in the hippo- 
drome at Jericho, and gave orders that they should be 
put to death immediately after his own decease, that 
mourners might not be wanting at his funeral.* At 
length the embassy returned from Rome, bringing Csesar's 
permission either for the exile or execution of Antipater. 
Though revived for a moment by the news, Herod was 
soon again distracted by his torments, and endeavored to 
commit suicide. An alarm spread through the palace 
and reached the ears of Antipater, who then tried to 
bribe his jailer to permit his escape, but the man com- 
municated the proposal to Herod, and Antipater was 
immediately put to death. 



* It must also have been about this time that Ilerod gave orders for 
the murder of the infants, as recorded in St. Matthew's Gospel, ii. 16-18. 



B. c. 37-4. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 329 

90. Death of Herod ; his Will.— On the fifth day 
after the execution, Herod died, having reigned thirty- 
four years from the death of Antigonus and thirty-seven 
years from the time of receiving the kingdom from the 
Roman Triumvirate. By his will he gave the kingdom 
of Judaea to Archelaus ; the tetrarchy of Galilee and 
Per^ea, in its more limited sense (sect. 79, note), to An- 
tipas; Itursea, Gaulonitis, Trachonitis, and Batanea to 
Philip; and a large sum of money, with the cities of 
Jamnia, Azotus, and Phasaelis, to his sister Salome ; be- 
sides handsome estates and money to each of his relations 
and legacies to the emperor Augustus and his wife Julia. 
This will was read aloud to the soldiers amidst loud ac- 
clamations, and Archelaus was proclaimed king, whilst 
the Jewish chiefs were released from their previous con- 
finement in the hippodrome. 

91. Cliaracter of Herod. — The character of Herod 
has been well summed up by Josephus. He was univer- 
sally cruel and of an ungovernable anger, but, though 
he trampled justice under foot, he was always a favorite 
of fortune. From a private station he rose to the throne, 
escaped a thousand dangers, and prolonged his life to the 
full boundary of old age. In his own family he appeared 
most miserable, but in himself most prosperous, for there 
was not one of his enemies whom he did not overcome. 



92. We have thus brought the Old Testament History, 
a period of probation and preparation, to its natural close. 
In the last year or two of the reign of Herod the Fore- 
runner appeared and Christ was born. The fulfilment 
of the Law and the Prophets in the person of the Mes- 
siah, and the history of the Jewish nation from the death 
of Herod to the destruction of Jerusalem, are included 
in the New Testament period, to which the author has 
devoted a separate volume. 

28* 



330 JEWISH SECTS. 



JEWISH SECTS. 

93. Classification, — Several religious sects appear to 
have sprung up amongst the Jews during the government 
of the Asamonean princes, of which the principal were 
the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. To these may 
be added the Scribes, Herodians, Samaritans, Gali- 
leans, and Sic aril 

94. I. The Pharisees, originated about B. C. 135. 
— From pharash, "separated" or "set apart." These 
were the most numerous and distinguished sect amongst 
the Jews, and were instituted in the reign of John Hyr- 
canus (p. 310), b. c. 135, though they are supposed to 
have first appeared soon after the institution of the Sad- 
ducees, b. c. 250. 

95. Tenets. — The Pharisees held the following tenets : 
1. The existence of angels and spirits; 2. The resurrec- 
tion of the dead ; 3. Pre-existence and transmigration 
of souls ; and, 4. The eternal happiness of the Jews in 
the terrestrial kingdom of the Messiah, which they de- 
rived from the merits of Abraham, their practice of cir- 
cumcision, their offering of sacrifices, and their know- 
ledge of God. 

96. Practices. — I. The Pharisees were most Strict 
in their Manners. They offered up long prayers in 
public places, sanctimoniously repaired the sepulchres of 
the prophets, considered themselves defiled by the com- 
pany of sinners, and compassed sea and land to make 
Jewish proselytes of the Gentiles. 

II. The Pharisees interpreted Certain of the 
Mosaic Laws most literally. They considered the 
laws of retaliation and divorce, which Moses had toler- 
ated, to be morally right ; that an oath was not binding 
unless the name of God was specified in it ; and that it 
was unlawful to pluck ears of corn or heal the sick on 
the Sabbath. 

III. The Pharisees reverently Observed the 
Traditions or Decrees of the Elders. They punc- 
tiliously paid tithes in temple-offerings, even of the most 



JEWISH SECTS. 331 

trifling tiling ; wore broad phylacteries and large fringes 
to their garments ; fasted twice a week with great auster- 
ity ; purified cups, vessels, and couches after meals ; and 
washed their hands up to the wrists both before and after 
meat. 

97. II. Sadducees, originated about B. C. 250. — 
Derived their name from Sadok, pupil of Antigonus So- 
chseus, president of the Sanhedrim, b. c. 250 (sect. 11). 
Sochseus taught that man ought to serve God disinter- 
estedly, and not from fear of punishment or hope of re- 
ward. Sadok, his pupil, inferred from this that there 
was no future state of rewards or punishments. The 
Sadducees, or followers of Sadok, were inconsiderable 
in point of numbers, but of the first distinction and 
eminence. 

98. Tenets. — The Sadducees believed — 1. That there 
was no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit ; 2. That 
there was no fate or overruling Providence ; 3. That no 
faith was to be placed in the traditions, but that the let- 
ter of Scripture was to be adhered to only, and the five 
books of Moses to be preferred. 

99. III. Essenes, originated about H. C. 110. — 
These are not mentioned in the New Testament, though 
they are supposed to be alluded to in Matt. xix. 12 ; Col. 
ii. 18, 23. They were divided into two classes — viz. 1. 
The Practical Essenes, who lived in society, and even 
married, though with much circumspection ; 2. The Con- 
templative Essenes, also called Therapeutse, or Physicians, 
because they cured the diseases of the soul. These devoted 
themselves to a life of celibacy and meditation. 

100. Tenets. — Both classes of Essenes were exceedingly 
abstemious, exemplary in their moral deportment, averse 
to profane swearing, and rigid in the observance of the 
Sabbath. They believed — 1. That the soul was immortal, 
though there was no resurrection of the body ; 2. That 
there was a state of future rewards and punishments ; 
and, 3. That everything was ordered by an eternal 
fatality or chain of causes. 

101. Scribes and Lawyers, — These generally be- 
longed to the sect of Pharisees, and took their names 
from their employment, which at first was transcribing 
the Law, but they subsequently became public teachers 



332 THE FOURTEEN APOCRYPHAL BOOKS. 

of it, and were consulted in all difficult points of doctrine 
or duty. Lawyers and Scribes appear to be synonymous 
terms, but Macknight conjectures the Scribes to have 
been the public expounders of the Law, whilst the 
Lawyers studied it in private. 

102. Herodians, Samaritans, Galilamns, and Si- 
carii. — Several other sects are alluded to in Scripture, of 
whom may be mentioned the following: I. The Hero- 
dians, who were a political faction rather than a religious 
sect, and derived their name from Herod the Great, to 
whose family they were strongly attached. They were 
distinguished by their concurring in Herod's plan of sub- 
jecting himself and the country to the Romans, and in his 
heathen practices. II. The Samaritans, of whom full 
mention is made in sect. 507. III. Galileans and 
Zealots, who were followers of that Judas the Gali- 
lsean who persuaded the people to refuse to pay tribute 
to Rome, because it was due to God alone. Acts v. 37. 
IV. The Sicarii, or Assassins. Acts xxi. 38. 



THE 

FOURTEEN APOCRYPHAL BOOKS. 

103. 1 Esdras, or Ezra, — This is only extant in 
Greek. It contains an account of the celebration of the 
passover in the reign of Josiah ; the story of the three 
competitors for the favor of Darius ; and the history of 
the return of the Jews from their Babylonian captivity, 
the building of the temple, and re-establishment of divine 
worship. It is full of improbabilities and contradictions, 
defies the Scripture narrative and all chronological order, 
but contains nothing exceptionable in doctrine or precept. 

104. 2 Esdras. — This is only extant in Latin, and 
its author is unknown. It contains a series of pretended 
revelations and predictions concerning the restoration of 
Jerusalem, character of the Messiah, etc., and abounds 
with absurd rabbinical tales and fables. 



THE FOURTEEN APOCRYPHAL BOOKS. 333 

105. Tobit. — Professes to relate the history of Tobit 
and his family, who were carried into captivity to Nine- 
veh by Shalmaneser (sect. 505) ; it contains, however, so 
many rabbinical fables and allusions to Babylonian de- 
monology that it has been looked upon as an amusing 
fiction inculcating pious and moral lessons. 

106. Judith. — Originally written in Chaldee and trans- 
lated into Latin. It professes to relate the defeat of the 
Assyrians through the instrumentality of Judith, who 
beheaded their general Holofernes, but in consequence 
of its numerous geographical, historical, and chrono- 
logical difficulties it has been considered rather as a 
drama or parable. 

107. Rest of the Chapters of the Booh of Esther — 
These are seven in number, and were written by some Hel- 
lenistic Jew. Both Jerome and Grotius consider them to 
be pure fiction. 

108. Wisdom of Solomon. — Commonly ascribed to 
Solomon, though the style is not like him, and it was 
never extant in Hebrew. It contains — first, an enco- 
mium on Wisdom, and then a series of reflections on 
the early history of the Jews and their subsequent 
proneness to idolatry. 

109. Ecclesiastics s, or Wisdom of Jesus the Son of 
Siraeh. — This book has been ascribed to Solomon, but 
the style and other internal evidence disprove the sup- 
position. It was written in Hebrew — or rather in Syro- 
Chaldee — by Jesus son of Siraeh, who appears to have 
travelled in pursuit of knowledge, and, being thoroughly 
versed in the Scriptures, had blended many things from 
the prophets with the sentences ascribed to Solomon and 
the result of his own observation. This was subsequent- 
ly translated into Greek for the use of the Alexandrian 
.Jews by his grandson, who seems to have been also 
named Jesus, and to have been the son of another Si- 
rach. The book has been held in general and deserved 
esteem by the Western Church, and was introduced into 
the public service by the venerable Reformers and com- 
pilers of the English Liturgy. 

110. Book of JBaruch. — The author and original lan- 
guage of this book are uncertain, and it is only extant in 
Greek and Syriac. The principal subject of the book is 



334 THE FOURTEEN APOCRYPHAL BOOKS. 

an epistle pretended to be sent by Jehoiakim and the 
captive Jews in Babylon to their brethren in Judah 
and Jerusalem. 

111. Song of the Three Children. — This does not 
appear to have been ever extant in Hebrew, and though 
it has always been admired for the piety of its sentiments, 
yet it was never admitted to be canonical until recognized 
by the Council of Trent. 

112. History of Susanna. — This is evidently the 
work of some Hellenistic Jew, and is considered by 
some modern critics to be both spurious and fabulous. 

113. Bel and the Dragon. — This is not extant either 
in Hebrew or Chaldee, and was always rejected by the 
Jewish Church, and, indeed, obtained little credit until 
admitted to be canonical by the Council of Trent. The 
author designed to make idolatry ridiculous, but he trans- 
ported to Babylon the worship of animals, which was 
never practised there. 

114. Prayer of Manasses. — Said to have been com- 
posed by that monarch during his captivity, but, though 
not unworthy of the occasion, it has been rejected as spu- 
rious even by the Church of Rome. 

115. 1 and 2 Maccabees. — These books are so 
called because they relate the patriotic and gallant ex- 
ploits of Judas Maccabseus and his brethren, and are 
both admitted to be canonical by the Romish Church. 

116. Book I. relates the history of the Jews from the 
beginning of the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes to the 
death of Simon, and it was probably written in the reign 
of John Hyrcanus, either by himself or under his super- 
intendence. It is a most valuable historical monument. 

117. Book II. is very inferior to Book I., and is a com- 
pilation from various histories by an unknown author, and 
must therefore be read with caution. It contains the his- 
tory of about fifteen years — viz. from the sending of Ile- 
liodorus by Seleucus to plunder the temple to the defeat 
of Nicanor by Judas Maccabseus. 



EXAMINATION QUESTIONS, 



INCLUDING THB 



CAMBRIDGE EXAMINATION-PAPERS IN OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY 
FOR VARIOUS YEARS, IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 

[The figures at the end of each Question refer to the sections, or pages where marked p., where 
the Answer may be found.] 

^iiVE the derivation of the word Pentateuch (p. 35). 

Give the derivation of Genesis (p. 35). 

How many years does the history of this book occupy? (p. 35.) 

What are the principal events recorded in Genesis? (p. 35.) 

State in order the work of each of the six days occupied by God 
in the creation. Sect. 1. 

What were the words of God immediately before creating 
man? 2. 

Explain these words, and say how far they lead us to imagine a 
plurality of Persons to have been engaged in the creation of the 
world. 2. 

What blessing did God pronounce on man after his creation? 3. 

By what rivers was the garden of Eden watered ? 4. 

Of what were the ordinances of the Sabbath and of marriage 
typical ? 4, note. 

Relate the circumstances connected with the fall of our first 
parents. 5. 

What curse did God pronounce on the serpent? 5. 

Can you trace here the promise of a Redeemer ? 6. 

Describe the events connected with the murder of Abel. 7. 

Give the names of the heads of families mentioned as the pos- 
terity of Cain. 8. 

To whom is the invention of musical instruments ascribed? 8. 

State the posterity of Adam through Seth. 9. 

Who w;is the father of Enoch? 9. 

What was his end? 9. 

What is said of Enoch in the Old and New Testament? 9. 

For what is Methuselah noted? 9. 

What circumstances led to the building of the ark? 10. 

Of whom was Noah the son? 9. 

From which of Adam's sons was he descended? 9. 

Who was the father of the Canaanitea? 15. 

Give the date of the Deluge. 11. 

How long did Noah live after it? 12. 

What allusion is made to Noah in St. Peter's Epistles? 10. 

What curse w;is pronounced by Noah on Ham, and what bless 
ing on Shem and Japheth respectively? and on what occasion? 12. 



336 EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. 

What is the meaning of the promise given to Japheth, "he shall 
dwell in the tents of Sliem " ? 14. 

From which of the three were the Jews descended ? 16. 

What other parts of the globe were peopled by his posterity? 

What portions of the world were peopled by the descendants of 
Japheth, and what by those of Ham? 14-16. 

What blessing or promise did God make to Noah after the Flood, 
and by what token was the promise confirmed ? 11. 

Of what is Noah's ark a type or figure? 79. 

" Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." 
On what occasion were these words first pronounced? 11. 

When was man forbidden to eat flesh ? and under what restric- 
tion ? 11. 

Where was the tower of Babel built? 17. 

What does the name signify ? 17. 

What were the objects for which the tower of Babel was built? 
17. 

Wherein did the sin of those engaged in building it consist ? 17. 

How was that sin visited ? 17. 

Relate the circumstances which led to the confusion of tongues 
at Babel. 17. 

What city was afterward built upon or near the site of Babel ? 
17. 

What promises did God make to Abraham? and on what occa- 
sions were they renewed? 20, 21, 26, 28, 29. 

Name the generations from Noah to Abram. 18. 

Give the probable date of the birth of Abram. 19. 

How many children had Haran ? and who were they? 19. 

What was the religion of Abraham's father, and probably his 
own ? 20. 

Was Abraham always called " father of the faithful " ? 42. 

What rite did God ordain at this time? 29. 

What was the distinguishing feature of Abraham's character? 
42. 

Illustrate it by incidents of his life. 20, 36. 

What command did Abram receive from God at Ur? 20. 

What peculiar appellations did the patriarch Abraham receive? 
28. 

What were the three distinct acts of great faith for which he 
became so eminently distinguished? 42. 

To which of these in particular is reference made when it is said 
that "his faith was imputed to him for righteousness"? 42. 

What was the native place of Abraham ? 20, note. 

State where Abraham was living before his call, the relationship 
between him and Lot, and the date of his call. 20. 

When was his name changed from "Abram" to "Abraham," 
and what is the signification of the latter? 29. 

Why is he called the " father of the faithful " ? 28. 

Who was Melchizedek? 24. 



EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. 337 

How is he described in the Epistle to the Hebrews? 25. 
Where, and on what occasion, did Abraham meet with him? 24. 

State what is recorded to have taken place during the inter- 
view. 24. 

Which is the first mention of tithes? 24. 

Give an account of the subsequent movements of Abraham. 32. 

By what different races was Canaan at this time peopled? 23. 

For how long a time did God say that his seed should be afflict- 
ed? 26. 

At what time must this affliction have commenced, according to 
chronology? 26. 

Show how the promises made to him were fulfilled. 28. 

Who was the child of promise? 28. 

How may Isaac be called a type of Christ? 36, note. 

What is the meaning of a type? 78. 

State the different particulars which we gather from Scripture of 
the history of Lot. 20, 22, 24, 31. 

What is the earliest account given of making wine? 12. 

The earliest mention of money? 32. 

State the circumstances attending the birth of Ishmael. 27. 

"And he will be a wild man; his hand will he against every 
man, and every man's hand against him." Of whom was this 
said? 27. 

How has the prediction been fulfilled ? 34. 

What circumstances are connected with the destruction of Sod- 
om ? 31. 

Why was Ishmael cast forth from Abraham's family? 34. 

What remarkable deliverance did he experience immediately 
after his ejection ? 34. 

What nation descended from him? 34. 

When did Sarah die? and where was she buried? 37. 

Relate the circumstances attendant on the marriage of Isaac. 38. 

Who was Abraham's second wife? and what nation was descend- 
ed from one of his sons by her? 39. 

What is the meaning of the word "Jacob"? 40. 

Jn what year did Abraham die? and where was he buried? 41. 

Relate the deception practised by Jacob upon his father Isaac. 46. 

What were the consequences to which it led, and under what 
circumstances did the brothers, Esau and Jacob, meet alter their 
separation ? 47, 53, 55. 

Give a brief sketch of the life of Isaac. (See Index, Isaac, 33, 
36, 38, 40, 46.) 

Who was his mother? 30, 33. 

in what way was Jacob deceived by his sons? 61. 

Give an account of the life of Esau. Who were his posterity? 
40, 43, 45, 46, 48. 

Relate the circumstances of Jacob's vision at Bethel. 47. 

What was his vow ? 47. 

What did God afterward say to Jacob at Bethel? 57. 

Explain the meaning of the term " Israel." 54. 
29 W 



338 EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. 

Where and how did Jacob obtain that name? 54. 

"What was the occasion of his fear and distress at the time? 53. 

How was his prayer answered? 55. 

Give a brief account of the history of Jacob. (See Index, Jacob.) 

Give the names of the family of Jacob by his two wives. 50. 

What prediction did he utter on his deathbed respecting Levi? 
and how was it fulfilled ? 72. 

What were his prophecies with reference to his other children ? 
72. 

Show briefly how these prophecies were fulfilled. 73. 

At what age did he die? and where was he buried? 74. 

What were the circumstances under which Joseph was sold into 
Egvpt? and by what steps did he attain to the office which he ulti- 
mately held? 61, 64, 65. 

Kelate the dreams of Pharaoh which led to Joseph's release 
from prison. 65. 

How did Joseph interpret these dreams ? and what was his con- 
sequent promotion? 65, 66. 

Relate the principal events in the life of Joseph. (See Index, 
Joseph.) 

How is Joseph a type of Christ? 77. 

What first led to the establishment of the Israelites in Egypt? 69. 

What proportion of the produce of land in Egypt in the time of 
Joseph was the king entitled to? 65. 

By whom was the law fixing the proportion first established ? 65. 

Sum up the typical intimations and prophecies of a Saviour to be 
found in the book of Genesis. 79. 

What is the meaning of the word " Exodus " ? p. 68. 

State the circumstances attendant on the birth of Moses and his 
preservation. 81, 82. 

What is the meaning of his name? 82. 

Kelate the circumstances of his flight into Midian and of his 
call by God at Horeb. 83, 84. 

By what name did God make himself known to him? 84. 

Where did he meet with Aaron ? 85. 

How did Pharaoh entertain their demand? 86. 

What length of time were the Israelites in Egypt? 100. 

Give a brief account of their condition during the closing years 
of their residence there. 81. 

By what signs was he ordered to convince the Israelites that he 
was sent by God. 85. 

Name the plagues of Egypt. 88-96, 98. 

What institution commemorated the last of them ? 99. 

What were the circumstances of the institution of the feast of 
the passover? 97. 

Was it known by any other name ? 99. 

What answers to it under the Christian dispensation ? 196. 

What persons were excluded from the observance of it? 97. 

Give a brief account of the ceremonies to be observed in the 
celebration of it. 97. 



EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. 339 

Of what was the paschal lamb a type? 152. 

In what year did the Israelites leave Egypt? 100. 

How were they led, and where did they encamp? 100. 

How was the passage of the Red Sea effected? 101. 

What was the fate of their enemies? 101. 

Trace their wanderings to Sin. 102. 

By what means were the children of Israel fed during their 
travels in the barren wilderness? 102. 

And what peculiarity attended the supply of their food? 103. 

"What is the meaning of the word "manna" ? 103. 

What circumstances occurred in their journey to Rephidim ? 
104. 

With what enemy was Joshua here engaged ? and what was the 
result of the battle? 105. 

By whom was Moses visited ? and what measures did he adopt 
in consequence of the advice given him? 106. 

Where did the Israelites encamp in the third month of the 
Exodus? 107. 

Enumerate the different miracles which were wrought on behalf 
of the children of Israel from the time of their departure from 
Egypt until they came into the wilderness of Sinai, and show what 
some of those miracles typified. 101, 102, 104, 152. 

State the circumstances attending the promulgation of the moral, 
civil, and ceremonial law. 108, 109. 

During the absence of Moses what crime did the Israelites com- 
mit? 110. 

What were the consequences of their idolatry ? 110. 

What circumstances attended Moses' second abode on Mount 
Sinai? 111. 

What building was afterward raised ? and who were consecrated 
priests? 111. 

In what commandments and precepts were the Jews warned 
against false prophets, divination, etc.? 112. 

When is the Sabbath first mentioned in the history of the chil- 
dren of Israel? 114. 

Is it then spoken of as a new appointment for the first time 
made, or as an institution already existing? 114. 

When was it first instituted? 1. 

How does the reason assigned in the fourth commandment for 
its observation show its universal obligation? 114. 

What was the object of the cities of refuge? 116. 

How many of them were there? 116. 

Under what limitations were they available? 116. 

What law of sale existed among the Jews? 126. 

What were the laws of usury? of pledges? of heirship? 127, 
128. 

Mention some of the miscellaneous precepts regarding covetous- 
ncss. 1:50. 

What was the law respecting slavery? 132. 

What was the Condition of the slavts? 132. 



340 EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. 

From what funds was the tabernacle built? 139. 

Give a description of its external form. 139. 

What was the Holy of Holies? 140. 

Who was privileged to enter into it? and when? 153. 

What were the contents of the ark of the covenant? 144. 

What was the ark of the covenant ? 144. 

Where was it placed? 144. 

What was its fate at different periods? and where was it ulti- 
mately deposited? 144, note. 

Where was the altar of incense placed ? 141. 

What other furniture had the Most Holy Place besides the ark ? 
145, 146. 

What was the Shechinah ? 147. 

Describe the court of the tabernacle. 148. 

What was its furniture? 149, 150. 

When was the tabernacle completed? 151. 

W T hat tvpical intimations do you find of the Messiah in Exodus? 
152. 

What is the meaning of the word " Leviticus " ? p. 95. 

To what family amongst the Israelites was the priesthood appro- 
priated? 154. 

Into how many classes were the priests divided? and by whom? 
156, note. 

Who and what were the Nazarites? 201. 

Describe the sacerdotal orders. 153. 

What provision Avas made for the tribe of Levi ? 164. 

What were the office and the robes of the high priest? 157. 

What was his typical character? 158. 

What were the duties and the livelihood of the Levites? 164. 

Who were the Nethinim ? 165. 

How were the Jewish offerings classified? 167. 

What species of animals might be sacrificed? and how were the 
victims selected? 168. 

What were the burnt-offerings? 169. 

What were the peace-offerings? 170. 

What were the sin-offerings ? 171. 

What was the sin-offering for the priest? 172. 

What other distinctions of persons were there with reference to 
this offering? 173-175. 

What w;is the trespass-offering? 176. 

What was the typical character of the Levitical sacrifices? 
177. 

How many kinds of oblations were there ? 178-180. 

What were the ordinary oblations? 178. 

What were the free oblations? 179. 

What were the prescribed oblations? 180. 

What was the law regarding first-fruits and firstlings? 181, 182. 

What were the regulations with regard to tithes? 183. 

What were the meat- and drink-offerings? 184, 185. 

How many kinds of national sacrifices were there? 186. 



EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. 341 

Give a classification of the annual festivals instituted by Moses. 
187. 

What were the three principal feasts ? and what was the design 
of the institution of each of them ? 188-190. 

What was their typical meaning? 196. 

What was the reason of the feast of Pentecost ? and when did it 
take place? 189. 

By what other names was it designated? 189. 

W T ith what event in subsequent times do we find it connected ? 
189. 

To what festival does it correspond in the Church of England? 
189. 

How many times in the year were the males of the children of 
Israel bound to appear before the Lord? and on what occasions? 
187. 

What was the sabbatical year? 194. 

Give a short account of the sabbatical year and of the year of 
jubilee. 194, 195. 

What was the latter a type of ? 196. 

What was the scape-goat? 192. 

Describe the ceremonies connected with it. 192. 

On what day did they take place? 192. 

What other circumstances were peculiar to this day? 192. 

What was its typical meaning ? 196. 

Sum up the typical intimations generally of the Messiah to be 
found in these festivals. 196. 

Classify the vows prevalent among the Jews. 199. 

How many kinds of Nazarites were there? 201. 

To which class did John the Baptist belong? 201. 

What was the Cherem ? 202. 

How many kinds of purification were there? 203. 

What were the laws with reference to leprosy? 207. 

What typical intimations besides those already referred to do we 
find in Leviticus? 169, note. 

Why is the book of Numbers so styled ? p. 120. 

How long did the children of Israel tarry at Mount Sinai? 215. 

What detained them there? 215. 

What sign was given for their departure? 216. 

What was the direction of their course from thence as far as 
Kadesh? 217,218, 220, 221. 

When did they begin to wander in the wilderness? and what 
was the cause of their wandering? 222. 

Where did Kadesh-barnea lie? 221. 

What miracle was performed there for the children of Israel ? 
225. 

Where had a similar miracle been wrought for them before? 10 1. 

What sin did Moses commit in connection with the miracle of 
Kadesh? 225. 

And how was he visited for it? 225. 

What were the names of the two faithful spies? 222. 
2<J * 



342 EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. 

How did Caleb and Joshua first distinguish themselves? 222. 

Where were the bones of Joseph finally deposited? 267. 

Give the history of the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abirarn. 
223. 

What was the result of it ? 223. 

Explain the allusion of St. Jude. 223. 

What is meant by " Aaron's rod that budded " ? Give an account 
of the rebellion Avhich preceded this miracle. 224. 

Who died at Kadesh? 225. 

Why were the Israelites compelled to take a circuitous route on 
leaving Kadesh ? 226. 

When did Aaron die? and who succeeded him in the priest- 
hood? 226. 

In what contest were the Israelites now engaged ? and with what 
success? 227. 

What course did they take from Hor? 228. 

For what crime were they punished during their journey? and 
what was the mode of punishment? 228. 

How were they relieved ? 228. 

Of what was the lifting up of the serpent typical ? 238. 

What afterward became of it? 228. 

What reception did the Israelites meet with from Sihon and Og ? 
229. 

What was the result? 229. 

What portion of the country now fell into the hands of the Israel- 
ites? 229. 

Give a brief account of Balaam's interview with the king of 
Moab. 230. 

What advice did he give Balak when not allowed to curse Israel ? 
230. 

What was his end? 232. 

Quote his prophecy of the Star of Jacob. 230. 

Reconcile his being the son of Bosor. 232, note. 

By what rivers were the Israelites now separated from Canaan? 
233. 

On the review of the whole of the Israelites, who only were found 
belonging to the old generation? 233. 

Compare this with the former census. 234. 

Which of the tribes of Israel received their inheritance on the 
east side of Jordan ? 235. 

On what conditions were they allowed to do so? 235. 

To what unknown book is allusion made in Numbers? and what 
different opinions are entertained with regard to it? 237. 

What typical and prophetical intimations of the Messiah can 
you find in Numbers? 238. 

What is the meaning of the word "Deuteronomy"? p. 130. 

Relate the events connected with the death of Moses. 239. 

How long were the Israelites in the wilderness? and from what 
point did Moses see the Promised Land ? 239. 

At what age did he die ? 239. 



EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. 343 

Of whom was he the son ? 240. 

What relation was he to Aaron ? 85. 

What part of the Pentateuch was probably not written by him ? 
242. 

Give a brief review of his life and character. 240. 

What prophecies with reference to the Messiah do you find in 
Deuteronomy? 241. 

Where in the New Testament do you find one of these prophecies 
especially applied? 241. 

What number of years does the book of Joshua occupy? p. 136. 

What circumstances are here related relative to the previous life 
of Joshua? 252. 

Give a summary of the contents of the book of Joshua, p. 136. 

Give an account in detail of the conquest of Palestine bv Joshua. 
253, 254, 256-261. 

Who concealed the spies sent by Joshua? where were they hid- 
den ? and by what token was the house to be known when the city 
was taken ? 253. 

Through what river, and opposite to what city, did the Israelites 
enter Canaan ? 254. 

Describe the passage of the Israelites over Jordan. 254. 

By what means was Jericho taken ? 255. 

What was the name of Jerusalem before its occupation by the 
Israelites? 326. 

Where was Gilgal ? 254. 

Give an account of the twelve stones set up there. 254. 

By what device did the Gibeonites save themselves from destruc- 
tion ? 258. 

What conditions were imposed upon them by Joshua? 258. 

By whom were their rigiits afterward invaded? 259. 

How far did the Promised Land extend to the north and to the 
south ? lufrod. 23. 

To what limits in these directions did the Jews under the Judges 
gain possession of it? Introd.23, 

What remnants of the old inhabitants were left to dwell within 
those limits? 261. 

How did these remnants afterward affect the children of Israel ? 
271. 

How does Joshua confirm his own account of the miracles at 
Gibeon? 259, note. 

Where was the tabernacle constructed ? 215. 

Where was it first set up in the Land of Promise? 144, note. 

What was the supposed age of Joshua at his death? What 
other celebrated men died about the same time? and where were 
they each buried ? 267. 

What is known of the "hook of .lasher"? 269. 

By whom is the book of Judges supposed to be written? p. 145. 

What period of time is included in it? p. 145. 

In what way have its chronological difficulties been explained? 
p. 145. 



344 EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. 

What was the number of the judges? 15. 

Mention some of the most remarkable of them. 15. 

When was the office abolished ? 303. 

What steps were taken to follow up the conquest of Canaan after 
the death of Joshua ? 270. 

What circumstances occasioned a relapse of the Israelites into 
idolatry? 270, 271. 

What idols did they now worship? 271. 

State the circumstances attending the idolatry of Micah. 272. 

What tragedy now took place in the country of Benjamin? 273. 

Who were the Philistines? 277, note. 

What did Shamgar do ? 277. 

Give a short account of Deborah and Barak. 277. 

" Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite 
be !" On what occasion was this blessing pronounced on Jael ? 
277. 

Who was Gideon ? 280. 

By what token was Gideon assured of God's assistance against 
the Midianites? 280. 

What means did he employ in selecting his army, and what was 
the result of his attack upon the Midianites? 281. 

By what other name was Gideon known, and on what occasion 
was that name conferred on him? 280. 

What occurred to Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah, and Zalmunna? 281. 

Where do we find the earliest example of an apologue? 283. 

State the occasion on which it was used. 283. 

What was the end of Abimelech? 285. 

What was Jephthah's vow? 291. 

What peculiaritv of pronunciation is recorded as belonging to 
the Ephraimites? 291. 

Give an account of the life, exploits, and death of Samson. 296, 
297. 

Give an account of the birth and education of Samuel. 298. 

Relate the circumstances of his call to the prophetic office. 300. 

Who was his mother? 298. 

Give a short account of Eli. 298. 

How did two of the sons of Eli die? 301. 

Of what were they to be the sign ? 299. 

What were their names? 299. 

Under what circumstances was the ark of God captured by the 
Philistines? 301. 

How long did they retain it? 302. 

What was done with it afterward? 302. 

What judgments attended its presence when carried among the 
enemies of the children of Israel? 302. 

How long did the sons of Samuel judge the land ? 303. 

What causes led to the establishment of monarchy among the 
Jews? 303. 

Whom did Samuel anoint as the first king? and what signs did 
he give him ? 303. 



EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. 345 

Give a brief abstract of the book of Kuth. 304. 

What is the character of this book? 304. 

By whom was it written? p. 162. 

Of what tribe was Boaz ? 305. 

Who was Obed ? 305. 

Who were the mothers of Dinah, Solomon, Samuel, and Obed ? 
50, 333, 298, 305. 

How far do the books of Samuel bring the narrative down ? p. 
162. 

By what other name are they known? p. 162. 

What was the first event which signalized the reign of Saul ? 
306. 

How and when did Jonathan distinguish himself? 307. 

By what means was the kingdom afterward divided ? 364. 

Give an account of Saul. 303, 306, 307, 320-322. _ 

What was the cause of Saul's desertion and rejection by the God 
of Israel? 308. 

How did he die? 321. 

How was David anointed king? 309. 

What was the origin of the ill-will which Saul bore David? 311. 

What course did Saul's persecution eventually compel David to 
take? 312. 

What act of forbearance did David show him? 317. 

Upon what occasions did David counterfeit madness? 314. 

And upon what occasions did he spare the life of Saul? 317, 
319. 

Bv whose hand did Saul die? and in what battle had he been 
engaged? 321. 

What sin of Saul drew forth the words, "It repenteth me that I 
have set up Saul to be king"? 308. 

What was Saul's end ? 321. 

Of what tribe was his successor? How does the book of Ruth 
bear upon the history of his family? 304. 

What was David's origin ? 305. 

By what mighty deeds did he distinguish himself in his youth ? 
310, 319. 

By whom was he anointed king? 309. 

'What justified such an act so many years before the death 
of Saul? 308. 

Where did David at first reign ? 323. 

What place did he afterward take and make his residence? 326. 

What part did Abner take in the political revolutions of his 
time? 324. 

Why was not David allowed to build the temple at Jerusalem? 
328. 

(iive an account of Absalom, his wicked conduct toward his 
father, and his punishment. 335, 337, 342. 

How did David receive the tidings of his death? 342. 

Give a full account of Absalom. :;.'!"> 337, 339, 312. 

Give a short account of A hithophel. '.Y.'.l , 340, 



346 EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. 

What are we told of Shimei? of Ziba? of Barzillai? 343. 

Give an account of the dissensions which took place between 
Israel and Judah in the reign of David. 344. 

Who was Joab? and what was his conduct in this war? 354. 

What act of presumption did David commit? and what punish- 
ment ensued? 348. 

What advantage did Adonijah take of his father's advanced age? 
349. 

Whom did David appoint as his successor? 349. 

Where was David buried? 350. 

What was the character of David ? 351. 

Under whom did the kingdom of Israel attain its greatest ex- 
tent? and what were then its limits? 352. 

Give an account of the vision which Solomon had soon after his 
accession to the throne. 356. 

How was his wisdom displayed immediately afterward? 356. 

What relation did he form with Egypt? 356. 

Whence did he import linen and war-chariots? 357. 

With what contemporary king did Solomon form a friendly alli- 
ance? 357. 

What was the spot on which the temple was erected ? 359. 

Where had the ark been kept before its erection? 144, note. 

Supposing 975 b. c. to be the date of Solomon's death, give the 
following dates : of Saul being anointed king by Samuel ; of David 
being anointed king of all Israel at Hebron. 369, 323. 

To what tribes did the following persons respectively belong: 
Moses, David, Daniel, Ezra, Saul, Korah, Zerubbabel, and Boaz? 
82, 304, 621, 584, 303, 223, 360, note, 305. 

What was the fate of Abiathar? of Adonijah? of Joab? 353. 

What relation was Joab to David ? and what was his character ? 
354. 

What was the end of Shimei ? 355. 

In what year of his reign did Solomon commence the building 
of the temple? 358. 

How many persons were employed on the structure ? 358. 

Give an exact description of the temple. 359. 

In what manner was the temple dedicated ? 360. 

How many temples were there at Jerusalem? and who built 
them? 359 and 360, note. 

In what respects did the first and second temples differ? 360. 

How was the prophecy fulfilled that the second temple should 
excel the first? 360, note. 

Illustrate the great glory of Solomon. 361. 

What circumstances disturbed the latter part of his reign ? 362. 

What account have we of Jeroboam the son of Nebat previous 
to his establishing himself on the throne of Israel? 362. 

Who was Rehoboam? 364. 

In what way was the revolt of the ten tribes of Israel foretold in 
the time of Solomon ? 362. 

What occasion was given by Rehoboam for their revolt? 364. 



EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. 347 

Did he ever make an attempt to bring them again into subjec- 
tion? 372. 

State clearly the changes which took place in the governing 
power among the Jews between the time of Samuel and that of 
Solomon. (See Introduction.) 

Describe briefly the events which took place connected with, the 
succession to the throne on Solomon's death. 3(34. 

Relate rhe circumstances of the separation and the revolt of the 
ten tribes of Israel from Judah. 364. 

Under whom did the tribes revolt? 364. 

Mention the chief events in the life of Jeroboam. 371, 373, 374, 
377. 

What is the title by which the memory of his conduct is per- 
petuated? 371. 

What means were employed by Jeroboam to prevent the ten 
tribes from returning to the house of David? 374. 

Why was it said of Jeroboam the son of Nebat that he " made 
Israel to sin"? 374. 

Why were the two calves of gold set up? 374. 

How did God manifest his displeasure to Jeroboam at Bethel? 
377. 

What did the man of God prophesy at Bethel ? 377. 

What king of Judah is connected with the transaction? 377. 

State the principal events in the life of Elijah. 401, 403, 406, 410. 

What were the circumstances of his death? 428. 

In whose reigns did he live? 399, 420, 426. 

Elijah said to Ahab, "Thus saith the Lord, In the place where 
dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even 
thine." How was this prophecy fulfilled? 417. 

By what means did Ahab obtain the vineyard of Naboth ? 414. 

What judgment was denounced against him and his wife by 
Elijah? and how was that judgment fulfilled? 414, 417, 445. 

Who was Jezebel ? 401. 

How was Ahab killed? 415. 

How was Ahab worse than Jeroboam? 417. 

For what special objects were Elijah and Elisha raised up? 428, 
463, note*. 

By whom, and with what remarkable observances, was Jericho 
rebuilt? 418. 

Who was Jehoshaphat? and how long and in what manner did 
he reign ? 398. 

Who succeeded Elijah in the prophetic office? 428. 

Mention some of the most remarkable events in the life of Elisha. 
463, note. 

What kings reigned over Judah and Israel in his time? 463, note. 

Who raised to life the Shunanimite's son? 437. 

What prophet fed miraculously a large number of people with a 
few loaves of bread ? 463, note. 

By whom w;is Elisha called? and wh:it was to be the sign that 
the spirit of the former prophet was upon him? 428. 



348 EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. 

Give an account of the cure of Naaman's leprosy, and of the cir- 
cumstances immediately connected with it. 430. 

What miracle was wrought at Elisha's sepulchre? 463, note. 

"What was the character of Jehoram? 427. 

What prophecies were delivered against him ? and by whom ? 
435. 

Show their fulfilment. 436. 

State the circumstances attending the siege of Samaria by Ben- 
hadad. 433. 

What was the character of Ahaziah and his fate? 439, 442. 

Under what circumstances did Joash come to the throne of Ju- 
dah? 447. 

Plow was Jehu appointed king over Israel? 441. 

Whom did he succeed ? 441. 

W r hat measures did he take to destroy the worshippers of Baal ? 
450. 

What was his general character? 453, 455. 

Jezebel says to Jehu, "Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?" 
Who was Zimri's master? 445. 

What was Zimri's end ? 395. 

Why did Jezebel remind Jehu of Zimri's fate? 441. 

Why was she condemned by Elijah? 414. 

Give a sketch of the history of Syria as mentioned in Scripture. 
471. 

What mention is there in the Old Testament of contrivances for 
measuring time? 499. 

Give an account of Hezekiah, the sufferings to which he was sub- 
jected, and the miracles which God performed for him. 502, 511. 

How is the excellency of King Hezekiah described? 502. 

W T hat reformation did he make? 502. 

What did he do to the brazen serpent? 502. 

How was his piety manifested when threatened by the king of 
Assyria? 510. 

Who was Merodach-baladan ? W T hat circumstance in the life of 
Hezekiah is connected with him? 512. 

W T hat miraculous interposition took place for deliverance? 510. 

What prophet lived in his time? 512. 

How old was Josiah when he began to reign ? 519. 

How was his piety manifested when the hook of the Law found 
in the house of the Lord was for the first time read to him ? 524. 

How did Josiah meet with his death ? 528. 

W T hat great reformation did he effect through his kingdom? 525. 

How is the solemn passover which was then kept described? 526. 

How was his death for years after lamented? 528. 

Give some account of the acts and deeds of the king. 519, 523, 
525. 

Of what prophecy was he the object? 525. 

AVho were the Assyrian and Babylonian kings mentioned in 
Scripture previous to Nebuchadnezzar? 535. 

W'hence originated the Samaritans? 507. 



EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. 349 

Who was Zedekiah? 544. 

"What is known of him ? 547-550. 

"What two remarkable prophecies were fulfilled concerning him ? 
550. 

How did the king of Judah treat Jeremiah during the siege of 
Jerusalem? 549. 

What became of the king of Judah and Jeremiah after the city 
was taken ? 550, 552. 

Describe the circumstances that immediately led to the seventy 
years' captivity. 535, et seq. 

What were the respective durations of the kingdoms of Israel 
and Judah after their separation, and by whom were the inhabitants 
respectively carried into captivity? 368, 369. 

What were the different forms of government to which the Is- 
raelites were subject at different periods before the captivity ? (See 
Introduction.) 

State the occasions of the different changes. (See ibid.) 

State the names of the last king of Israel and his conqueror, with 
date, and of the last three kings of Judah, mentioning briefly the 
circumstances of the final subjugation of the latter kingdom, pp. 
166-169. 

What period of history is embraced in the Chronicles? p. 239. 

What period of time do they comprehend? p. 239. 

By whom are they supposed to have been written ? and what par- 
ticular objects had the author in view? p. 239. 

What is the most important use of the genealogical tables con- 
tained therein? p. 239. 

What were the operations of Nebuchadnezzar in Palestine after 
the capture of Jerusalem? and what prophecies were then prob- 
ably fulfilled? 559. 

Give the principal events in the subsequent life of Nebuchadnez- 
zar. 558-561. 

In what year of his reign and of the Captivity did he die ? and 
by whom was he succeeded ? 561. 

By whom, and on what occasion, was the Babylonish captivity 
first foretold? 534. 

(live the date of the fall of the Babylonian empire and the name 
of the last king. 565. 

To what monarch did it then become subject? 568. 

Which of ( 'yrus' successors are mentioned in the Old Testament ? 
57(5. 

Under whose conduct did the Jews return home from Babylon 
after their captivity ? 572, 584. 

Who was Ezra? and what was his office? 584. 

What are the principal contents of his hook? p. 215. 

What were his labors respecting the canon of Scripture? 586. 

liy what kings of Persia were the three decrees in favor of the 
Jews, recorded in the hook of Ezra, issued? 571, 579, 584 

From which of the three were the Seventy weeks of Daniel to he 
reckoned ? 584. 

80 



350 EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. 

Who were the chief persons concerned in the restoration of the 
Jews and in the rebuilding of the temple? 574, 578. 

Under what circumstances was the building of the second temple 
commenced? 575. 

What interruptions did it experience ? and from what prophets 
did the Jews receive encouragement in the work ? 575, 578. 

Who was Nehemiah ? 588. 

When did he flourish ? 588. 

And what did he do for the Jews? 589. 

What office did Nehemiah hold under Artaxerxes? 588. 

In what way did he exert himself for the rebuilding of Jerusa- 
lem ? 589. 

Who were the principal persons that opposed him ? 589. 

Give the names of the high priests from Aaron to the return 
from captivity, p. 252. 

What gave rise to the feuds between the Jews and the Samari- 
tans? 575. 

Where did the Samaritans worship ? 575. 

What are the chief contents of the book of Nehemiah? p. 253. 

Who was Sanballat ? and on what occasion is his name men- 
tioned? 589. 

To what year b. c. does direct history in our canon of the Old 
Testament extend ? 592. 

Give a summary of the contents of the book of Esther. 593. 

Over what period does it extend ? 593. 

By what name is Ahasuerus (mentioned in the book of Esther) 
known in profane history? 593. 

Kelate the circumstances of the plot formed by Hainan against 
the Jews, and show how it was frustrated. 593. 

What is the signification of the word " Purim"? 594. 

How did the Jews observe this festival ? 594. 



INDEX. 



The references are made to the Sections ; those to the Connection between the Old and 
New Testaments, and to the Introduction, are distinctly marked. 

Sect. 

Abijah, son of Jeroboam 380 

Abimelech, king of Gerar, deceiv- 
ed by Abraham 32 

his covenant with Abraham... 35 

deceived by Isaac 44 

Abimelech, son of Gideon by a 

concubine 283 

killed by a mill-stone 285 

Abinadab, ark remained in house 

of. 302 

son of Jesse 309 

Abiram ("deceit"), rebellion of 223 

son of Hiel 256, 418 

Abishag, a Sliunammite virgin 349 

Adonijah requests to marry 

her 353 

Abishai,son of Zeruiah, conquers 

Ammonites 331 

wishes to slay Shimei 338 

marches against Absalom 341 

against Sheba 345 

succors David, and slays Ish- 

bi-benob 347 

Abner, son of Ner, Saul's uncle, 
commander of Ishbosheth's 

army, slain by Joab 324 

Abram.son ot'Terah, age of; mar- 
ries Sarai 19 

early life and call of. 20 

enters Canaan ; land promised 
to his seed ; goes to Egypt ; 

deceives Pharaoh 21 

returns; separates from Lot; 

and goes to Mamre 22 

rescues Lot, and pays tithes to 

Melcl.izedek 24 

ason promised t<> him, and the 

Egyptian bondage foretold.. 26 
Ishmael born 27 

God's promises renewed 28 

Circumcision instituted ; name 

changed to Abraham 29 

visited iiv i hree angels ; inter- 
cedes lor Si. dom 30 

deceives Abimelech at Gerar., 82 

Isaac born ■';.! 

351 



Sect. 
Aaron meets Moses in the wilder- 
ness 85 

with Moses goes to Pharaoh... 86 
lays up some manna in a pot.. 103 
with Hur holds up Moses' 

hands 105 

the people delegated to them.. 109 
persuaded by the people to 

make a golden calf 110 

a type of Christ 152 

his family appointed priests.. 154 

eonsec rated 1(>6 

his sedition with Miriam at 

Hazeroth 220 

his rod blossoms 224 

his sin at Me ri hah 225 

his death on Mount Hor 22fi 

Abdon, a judge in North Israel.... 294 
Abeduego, given as an hostage to 

Nebuchadnezzar 537 

(Hebrew, Azariah), educated 

at Babylon 621 

cast into the fiery furnace 623 

Abel, son of Adam, a keeper of 
sheep; his sacrifice; killed 

by Cain 7 

Abel of Beth-maachah; Sheba 

slain there 345 

Abel-mizraim (" the mourning of 

the Egyptians") 74 

Abiathar, son of Abimelech 315 

the priest, hears the ark after 
David; ordered to carry it 

back 338 

revolts with Adonijah :i4'J 

banished to Anathoth 838 

Abib !)7 and note 

Abigail, wife of Nabal, marries 

David 318 

Abihu, son of Aaron, with Nadab, 

attends Moses in the mount. 109 

their sin 169 

Abijah, or Abijam, son of Reho- 

boam 378 

defeats Jeroboam 879 



352 



INDEX. 



Sect. 

Abraham sends away Hagar and 

Ishmael 34 

enters into covenant with Ab- 

imeleeh 35 

commanded to offer Isaac 36 

Sarah dies; buys the cave of 

Machpelab ....". 37 

marries Isaac to Rebekah 38 

marries Keturah 39 

sends away her sons with gi(ts,nole 
dies ; buried by Isaac and Ish- 
mael 41 

the father of the faithful 42 

Absalom, son of David, receives 

Tamar into his house 334 

assassinates Amnon and flees 

to Geshur 335 

returns; Joab effects a recon- 
ciliation for him with David 336 

revolts 337 

insults David's concubines 339 

rejects Ahithophel's counsel.. 340 

defeated and slain by Joab 342 

Achan : his sin ; stoned to death 
with his family and burn- 
ed in the valley of Achor 

("trouble") 257 

Achish, king of the Philistines; 

David flees to him 314 

gives Ziklag to David 319 

dismisses David 323 

Acbsah, daughter of Caleb, Oth- 

niel's wife 264 

Acra, or Millo, a hill of Jerusalem, 

326, note, and Con. 22 
Adah, wife of Lamech, mother of 

Jabel and Jubal 8 

or Bashemath, wife of Esau... 45 

Adam, creation of. 1 

God blesses him 3 

placed in Eden ; beasts named 

and woman made 4 

fall and sentence of God on 
him ; clothed with skins 

and expelled Paradise 5 

his sons 7 

his posterity through Cain 8 

his age, and posterity through 

Seth 9 

Psalms ascribed to him 604 

Adar, a month 594 

Adonibezek, king of Bezek, defeat 

of. 270 

Adonijah, son of David by Hag- 

gith ; his revolt 349 

slain by Benaiah 353 

Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem, 

defeated by Joshua 259 

Adoram stoned in revolt of ten 

tribes 364 

Adriel, Merab given to him 346 

Adullam.caveof; David concealed 

there 314 

Adultery, law respecting 118 

Africa peopled by descendants of 

Ham 15 



Sect. 
Agag, king of Amalek, slain bv 

Samuel '. 308 

Ahab, king of Israel, son of Omri; 

duration of reign 399 

marries Jezebel; his idolatry. 401 
accuses Elijah with troubling 

Israel 406 

his affinity with Jehosliaphat. 409 
Benhadad threatens him ; his 

victory 411 

his second victory over Ben- 
hadad 412 

his alliance with Benhadad... 413 

covets Naboth's vineyard 414 

Jehoshaphat unites with him 

against the Svrians 415 

his death ." 417 

events in his reign 418 

Ahara, a river 584 

Ahasuerus, or Cambyses ; Samar- 
itans write to him 576 

divorces Vashti and marries 

Esther 593 

Ahaz, son of Jotham, king of Ju- 

dah 487 

his idolatry 488 

Isaiah prophesies to him 491 

defeated by Pekah and Rezin. 492 

applies to Tiglath-pileser 493 

worships the gods of Damas- 
cus 494 

his sun-dial 499 

Ahaziah, king of Israel, son of 

Ahab; duration of reign.... 420 

idolatry 421 

his sickness; sends to Baal- 

zebub 424 

sends three companies of fifty 
each to arrest Elijah ; his 

death 425 

Ahaziah, king of Judah ; son of 

Jehoram by Athaliah 439 

joins Jehorarii, king of Israel. 440 

slain by Jehu 442 

Ahiah.ason of Eli 3U1 

Ahijah, the Shilonite prophet, 
promises to Jeroboam ten 

tribes 362 

Ahijah sends to consult him... 380 
Ahimaaz, son of Zadok the priest. 338 

Ahiman, son of Anak 264 

Ahimelech, a high priest, gives 

shew-bread to David 314 

slain by Doeg 315 

Ahinoam of Jezreel ; David mar- 
ries her 318 

Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's 

counsellor, revolts 337 

his counsel 33.8 

followed 339 

rejected 340 

commits suicide 342 

Ahitub, a son of Eli 301 

Aholiab, an inspired architect 139 

Aholibamah, or Judith, a wife of 

Esau 15 



INDEX. 



353 



Sect. 
Ai; distance from Jericho; taken 

by Joshua 257 

Alcimus, or Jacimus, high priest, 

deposed Con. 29 

Alexander the Great; his first 
conquests; visits Jerusa- 
lem ; adores the name of 

God Con. 5 

conquers Egypt and over- 
throws Persia Con. 6 

his death Con. 7 

Alexander Balas, the impostor, 

obtains Syria Con. 33 

^Egeus, a posthumous son of 

Alexander the Great Con. 7 

Jannaeus, high priest, brother 

of Aristobulus I Con. 49 

insulted by t lie populace. ...Con. 50 

rebellion of Pharisees Con. 52 

Alexander Jannaeus; regains the 

kingdom ; his cruelty Con. 53 

his dying advice to his 

queen Con. 54 

Alexander, son of Aristobulus II., 

invades Judaea Con. 63 

carried to Autioch and he- 
headed Con. 65 

Alexandra, queen of Alexander 

Jannaeus Con. 54 

ascends the throne Con. 55 

mother of Mariamne Con. 80 

Altar of incense 141 

of burnt-offerings 149 

Amalekites, account of 247 

defeated bv Joshua 105 

defeat the Israelites 222 

defeated by Saul 308 

David 319 and note, 323 
Amasa, commander of the host of 

Absalom 342 

commander-in-chief to David. 344 

slain by Joab 345 

Amasis, king of Egypt, rival of 

A pries 559 

Amaziah, king of Judith, son of 

Joash; duration of reign.... 460 
slays his father's murderers... 402 

defeats the Kdomites 404 

worships the Edomite gods.... 466 
challenges Joash, king of Is- 
rael, and defeated 4f>7 

slain at Lachish 468 

Amittai, father of Jonah 635 

Ammiel, father of Machir 341 

Ammonites, history of Int. 21 

descended from Ben-ammi 31 

oppress the Israelites eighteen 

years 288 

defeated bv Jephthah 291 

by Saul 306 

by David 831 

subject to Solomon 352 

defeated by Jehoshaphat 422 

Amnon. son of David by Ahi- 

nonm, ai>u>es Tamar 884 

slain by Absalom 830 

30* 



Sect. 
Amon, king of Judah, son of Ma- 

nasseh 517 

Amorites, the, their position in 

Canaan 23 

defeated by the Israelites 229 

by Joshua 261 

Amos prophesies 476 

his time, etc 633 

Amram, father of Moses 82 

Amraphel, king of Shinar 24 

Anak, three sons of 264 

Anakims defeated by Joshua 259 

Ananel, high priest Con. 75 

Anath, father of Shamgar 277 

Anathema, or Cherem 202 

Anatboth, Abiathar banished to.. 353 
Andromachus, governor of the Sa- 
maritans Con. 6 

Andronicus, governor of Anti- 

och Con. 17 

Aner, an Amorite, joins Abraham. 24 

Animals created 1 

named by Adam 4 

Antigonus, brother of Aristobu- 
lus I Cbn.48 

son of Aristobulus, defeated 

by Herod Con. 70 

Parthians place him on the 

throne Con. 71 

sent in chains to Antioch and 

executed Con. 73 

Antigonus Socho, founder of the 

New Synagogue Con. 11 

his doctrine Con. 97 

Antiochus the Great, defeated by 

Philopator Con. 13 

his conquest, of Palestine... Con. 14 
Antiochus Epiphanes, brother of 
Seleucus, establishes idola- 
trous games at Jerusa- 
lem Con. 16 

bribed by Menelaus Con. 17 

profanes the temple, etc Con. 18 

persecutes the Jews Con. 19 

Antipas, son of Herod the Great. Cbn.90 
Antipater, father of Herod the 

Great Con. 58 

intrigues with Aretas Con. 59 

his policy Con. 62 

defeats Alexander Con. 63 

appointed procurator of Ju- 
daea Con. 66 

poisoned by Maliebus Con. 68 

Antipater, a son of Herod the 

Great Con. 85 

put to death bv order of He- 
rod .". Con. 89 

Antonia, a palace and castle of 

Jerusalem <"„„. s:i 

Antonv, Mark, assists Antipa- 
ter Con. 68 

bis conduct in Bgypl Con. 71 

executes Antigonus Can. 7:> 

his overthrow at Act iuni ... < 'on. 79 
Aphek ; Benbadad II. debated 

there 412 



354 



INDEX. 



Sect. 
Apocryphal books, account of... Int. 59 

history of Con. 103-107 

Apollonius, a general of Antio- 

clius Con. 18 

Apologues ; Jotham's earliest re- 
corded 284 

Joash's 467 

Apries, or Pharaoh-Hophra, allies 

with Zedekiah 547 

retreat of 548 

Arabia, geography and history 

of. Int. 17-22 

Arabians tributary to Jehosha- 

phat 408 

Arad, king of a Canaanite na- 
tion 227 

Aram, geography of. Int. 9 and 39 

'Araunah the Jebusite 348 

Araxes, a river of Eden 4 

Arbela Con. 6 

Archelaus, son of Herod the Great. 

Con. 90 
Aretas, king of Arabia Petraea..C<m. 58 

assists Hyrcanus Con. 59 

Aridseus, an illegitimate son of 

Philip Con.l 

Arioch, king of Ellasar, defeated 

by Abram 24 

Aristohulus I. seizes the govern- 
ment Con. 47 

conquers the Itureans; kills 

Antigonns Con. 4.8 

Aristohulus II., brother of Hyrca- 
nus Con. 56 

battle with Hyrcanus Con. 57 

ascends the throne Con. 58 

defeated by Antipater Con. 59 

Pompey arbitrates between 

the brothers Con. 60 

taken prisoner to Rome Con. 61 

escapes; is defeated and poi- 
soned Con. 65 

Aristohulus, a son of Herod the 

Great, executed Con. 85 

Ark, the, built ; a type of salva- 
tion by Christ 10 

of the tabernacle, contents.. ..p. 91 

subsequent history of 144, note 

taken by the Philistines 301 

disasters attending, and its 

restoration 302 

removal to Jerusalem by Da- 
vid 328 

Armenia, geography of. Int. 40 

Arnon, a river: march from Hor 

to 228 

Aroer 291 

Arphaxad, son of Shem ; his de- 
scendants 10 

his age 18 

Arphaxad, king of the Medes p. 257 

Arses, king of the Medes ib. 

Arson, law against 124 

Artabanus slays Xerxes, captain 

of the guard 582 

Artaxerxes (Smerdis Magus) pro- 



Sect, 
hibits the building of the 

temple 577 

Artaxerxes Longimanus, or Aha- 

suerus 583 

appoints Ezra conductor of 

the people 584 

appoints Nehemiah governor. 588 
divorces Vashti; marries Es- 
ther 593 

Artemisium, battle of 582 

Arza, steward of Baasha 393 

Asa, king of Judah, son of Abijah ; 

duration of reign 381 

suppresses idolatry 384 

defeats Zerah 387 

bribes Benhadad 1 390 

his death 391 

Asahel, son of Zeruiah, slain by 

Abner 324 

Asaph, a writer of the Psalms 604 

Asenath, wife of Joseph 66 

Ashdod, a government of the Phil- 
istines 277, note 

taken by Sennacherib 509 

Asher, son of Zilpah, born 50 

Jacob's prophecy respecting 

him 72 

the territory of his tribe 263 

Ashtaroth, worshipped by the Is- 
raelites 271 

by Ahab, 
401 and note 

Asia Minor, geography of Int. 8 

peopled by the descendants of 

Japheth 14 

Asia, Northern, peopled by the de- 
scendants of Japheth 14 

Central, peopled by the de- 
scendants of Shem 16 

Askelon, a government of the 

Philistines 277, note 

Assemblies, legislative; the co- 

mitia 134 

method and place of conven- 
ing 135 

powers of 136 

Asshur, son of Shem ; his descend- 
ants 16 

Assyria, geography and history 

of IniAQ 

summary of history 554 

also tables, at pp. 166-1(59 

Assyrians, descended from Shem.. 16 
Astarte, worshipped by Ahab, 

401 and note 
Astyages, king of Media, death of.. 562 

Atad, threshing-floor of. 74 

Athaliah, queen of Judah, daugh- 
ter of Ahab, marries Jeho- 

ram 400 

usurps the throne 443 

slain 447 

Atonement, day of. 192 

Atossa, mother of Xerxes 682 

Azariah, a prophet 381 

encourages Asa 387 



INDEX. 



355 



Sect. 
Azariah, probably same as Ara- 

ariah 587 

Azariah, king of Judah. See Uz- 

ZIAH. 

Hebrew name of Abednego... 621 

B. 

Baal, introduction of, among the 

Israelites 271 

Gideon throws down the altar 

of. 280 

•worshipped by Ahab ; account 

of. 401 and note 

prophets slaughtered by Eli- 
jah 406 

worshippers slaughtered by 

Jehu 450 

Baal-zehub (" lord of flies "), god of 

Ekron, sent to by Ahaziah.. 424 
Baanah, captain and murderer of 

Lshbosheth, slain by David. 325 
Baasha, king of Israel; duration 

of reign 385 

his idolatry 386 

allies with'Benhadad 1 388 

fortifies Ramah 389 

assassinated by Ziinri 393 

Babel built and kingdom founded. 17 

Babylon besieged by Cyrus 566, 567 

Babylonia, geography and history 

of. Int. 41-43 

rise of empire 535 

Bacchides sent by Demetrius So- 

ter into Judaia Con. 30 

Bagoses, a satrap of Syria Con. 2 

Baburim, Shimei curses David at. 338 

Balaam ; J'.alak sends to him 230 

his counsel 231 

slain 232 

Balak, king of Moab 230 

Baraehah, supposed the valley of 

Jehoshaphat 422 

Barak defeats Sisera 278 

Baruch reads Jeremiah's prophecy 

in the temple 534-538 

book of. Cm. 110 

Barzillai, the Gileadite, succors 

David 341 

congratulates David 3 i.s 

Bashan 229 

Bashemath, or Adah, wife of Esau. 45 
Bathsheba, wife of Uriah ; David's 

adultery with 332 

death of her child; Solomon 

born 333 

tells David of Adonijah's re- 
volt 349 

her request for Adonfjah 353 

Beeri, father of Eosea 631 

Beeroth. a city of the Gibeonites.. 258 
Beersheba ("well of oath"), wil- 
derness of 31 

digging of the well of .'{5 

Elijah fllea thither 410 

Bel and the Dragon Otn. 113 



Sect. 
Belshazzar, allies with Croesus. Cbra. 565 

slain Con. 567 

his feast and death Con. 627 

Belteshazzar, name ^ r iven to Dan- 
iel Con. 621 

Benaiah, proclaims Solomon king. 349 

slays Adonijah and Joab 353 

slays Shimei 355 

Benammi, father of the Ammon- 
ites, born 31 

Benhadad I. bribed by Asa ; at- 
tacks Baasha 390 

II.; 1st campaign; siege of 

Samaria 411 

2d campaign ; defeated at 

Aphek 412 

alliance with Ahab 413 

defeats Ahab at Ramoth-gil- 

ead 415 

his death foretold by Elijah... 438 

III., son of Hazael 458 

(For an account of these 
three Syrian kings see 
also 493, note.) 

Benjamin, son of Rachel, born 58 

his father refuses to send him 

to Egypt 68 

is sent, and the cup found in 

his sack 69 

Jacob's prophecy respecting 

him 72 

territory of his tribe 263 

the tribe utterly routed 273 

forcibly obtain wives 274 

Benoni ("son of my sorrow") 58 

Berechiah, father of Zechariah.... 641 
Berith, an idol, worship of, by Is- 
raelites 285 

Bessus, satrap of Bactria Con. 6 

Bethel (" house of God "), so called 

by Jacob 47 

golden calf set up there 374 

man of God comes to 377 

Josiah breaks down the altar 

at 525 

Beth-maachah 345 

Beth-rehob, a Syrian state 331 

Bethshan, or Scy thopolis 321 

Bethshemites slain for looking 

into the ark 302 

Bethsura, a town between Hebron 

and Jerusalem Gun. 23 

Bethuel, son of Nahor, father of 

Rebekah 38 

Bezaleel, son of Uri, an Inspired 

architect 139 

Bezek, 10,000 men of, slain 270 

Be/.er, a city of refuge 236 

Bible, the Int. 53 

Bildad the Shuhite, Job's friend... 699 

bilhah, handmaid of Ruche] i«.) 

her sons 50 

Beuben commits Incest with 

her 59 

misconduct Of her sons 61 

Blasphemy, law against 113 



356 



INDEX. 



Sect. 

Boaz marries Ruth 305 

Bread, unleavened, feast of.. 99 and 188 

Breastplate of judgment, the 162 

Brutus, defeat of, at Philippi 69 

Buzi, father of Ezekiel 620 

C. 

Caesar, Julius, restores Hyrcanus, 

Con. 64 

releases Aristobulus Con. 65 

appoints Antipater procura- 
tor Con. 66 

assassination of. Con. 68 

Sextus, governor of Syria... Con. 67 

Octavius .'. 72 

secures the kingdom to Herod. 79 
Csesarea, built by Herod the Great, 

Con. 83 

Cain, murders Abel 7 

his posterity 8 

Cainan, son of Enos, descendant 

of Seth 9 

Caleb, sent to spy out Canaan ; 

his conduct 222 

drives out the three sons of 

Anak 264 

Calf, the golden 110 and note 

Calves, the golden, set up by Jero- 
boam 374 

Cambyses. See Ahasuerus. 

Canaan, son of Ham 12-15 

land of, prior to conquest by 

Israelites 243 

boundaries 244 

description of the country 245 

early inhabitants 246-250 

divided among the twelve 

tribes 263 

Candlestick, the golden 143 

Captain of a thousand 311, note 

Carchemish, an important post on 

the Euphrates 528 

captured by Necho 530 

Carmel, Mount; the contest be- 
tween Elijah and the priests 

of Baal 406 

Cassander, a general of Alexan- 
der Con. 9 

Cassius, seizes Syria (Jon. 68 

defeated at Philippi Con. 69 

Census of the Israelites 234 

Ceremonial law, how divided. 

(See note, p. 90) 
Chaldee, Babylonian empire, rise 

of 535 

history of. 558 

Chebar, a river 620 

Cbedorlaomer, king of Elam, de- 
feated by Abrain 24, 554 

Chemosh, worshipped by Solomon. 362 
Chephirah, a city of the Gibeon- 

ites 258 

Cherem, or Anathema 202 

Cherethites, follow David. .338 and note 
march of, under Abishai 345 



Cherith, Elijah fed by ravens at 

the brook 428, note 

Cherubim, the 146 

Child-birth, purification after 206 

Chimham, son of Barzillai 343 

Chronicles, Books of. 555-557 

Cimbri, the, or Cimmerians, de- 
scended from Gomer, son 

of Japheth 14 

Circumcision, instituted 29 

re-established 255 

Cleopatra; Antony falls in love 

with her Con. 71 

Coele-Syria Con. 9, note 

Comitia, the. See Assemblies, 

LEGISLATIVE. 

Commerce of Solomon 357 

Constitution, the Jewish.. 133 and note 

Covetousness, law against 130 

Cozbi, a Midianitibh" woman, slain 

by Phinehas 231 

Crassus, governor of Syria Con. 65 

Creation, the 1, 2 

Crcesus, king of Lydia, defeated 

by Cyrus ". 565 

Cush,son of Ham 15 

Cushites, descendants of Cush 15 

Cuthseans, or Samaritans 507 

Cyaxares II., placed by Cyrus on 

the throne of Eabylon 568 

death of. 570 

III. in Median line, allies with 
Nabopolassar and takes 

Nineveh. See page 168 535 

Cyrus, succeeds Astyages in the 

military government 562 

assists his uncle Cyaxares II.. 563 

besieges Babylon 566 

takes Babylon 567 

succeeds to the empire 570 

D. 

Dagon, a god of the Philistines.... 297 

falls down before the ark 302 

Damascus, seized by Iiezon 362 

kingdom of. 493, note 

Dan, son of Bilhah, born 50 

Jacob's prophecy concerning 

him 72 

the territory of his tribe 263 

the tribe carry off Micah's 

gods, and take Laish 272 

golden calf set up at 374 

Daniel, carried to Babylon 537 

called Belteshazzar 621 

interprets the king's dreams, 

622, 624 
his vision of the four beasts... 625 
of the ram and he- 
goat 626 

deciphers the writing 627 

thrown into the lions' den 628 

his prophecies 629, 630 

his history 621-630 and note 

Darius the Mede. See Cyax- 
ares II. 



INDEX. 



357 



Sect. 
Darius Hystaspis, obtains the 

throne 578 

confirms the edict of Cyrus... 579 
hisdeath, and principal events 

of his reign 582 

Dathan,("laws "), rebellion of 223 

David, son of Jesse, anointed king. 309 

slays Goliath 310 

thrice escapes death; mar- 
ries Michal 311 

flies to Ramah 312 

his covenant with Jonathan... 313 

his wanderings 314-319 

forhearance at Engedi and 

Zipli 317, 319 

marries Abigail and Ahinoam. 318 
defeats Amalekites and pro- 
claimed king 3.3,325 

takes Jerusalem 326 

defeats Philistines, etc.327, 329, 331 

adultery with Bathsheba 332 

reconciled to Absalom 336 

leaves Jerusalem 338 

his concubines insulted 339 

grief for Absalom 342 

returns to Jerusalem 343 

attacked by Ishbi-benob 347 

numbers the people 348 

his death and character 350, 351 

Psalms of 604 

Dead bodies, purification after 

touching 206 

Dead Sea, formation of. 31 

Debir, king of Eglon, defeated by 

Joshua 259 

Deborah, nurse of Rebekah, dies.. 57 
the prophetess, defeats Sisera. 278 

Dedication, feast of 193 

institution of Con.2'1 

Delilah betrays Samson 297 

Deluge, the 11 

Demetrius Euceres, Pharisees send 

to him Con. 52 

Nicator, acknowledges Simon 

as high priest Con. 21 

obtains the throne Cm. 34 

his ingratitude punished....Cbn. 35 
Sot it, sends an army against 

Judaja Con. 29 

Deuteronomy ; analysis of its con- 
tents...' ." ]>. 130 

prophecies in 241 

authenticity of the last chap- 
ter 242 

Dinah, daughter of Leah, born.... 60 

carried oil by Shechem 56 

Divination, law against 112 

Divorce, law of 120 

Dodecartby, the 528 

Doeg, the Edomite, marches 

against Nob 315 

Doris, the first wife of Herod the 

(ireai Con. 85 

Dothan, Joseph finds his brethren 

there 61 

besieged by Benhadad 431 



Sect. 
Dura; Nebuchadnezzar's image 

erected there 558, 623 

E. 

Ebal, a mountain of Palestine 245 

Ebed, father of Gaal 285 

Ebedmelech rescues Jeremiah 549 

Ebenezer, Israelites defeated there. 301 

so called by Samuel 302 

Eber, son of Salah, descendant of 

Shem 18 

Ecbatana ; Darius flees thither... Con. 6 

Ecclesiastes, authorship of. 609 

scope of 610 

Ecclesiasticus, or Wisdom of Jesus 

son of Sirach Con. 109 

Edar, a tower 59 

Eden, garden of, situation. ..4 and note 

Edom, or Esau ("red") 43 

land of, Israelites refused a 

passage through 226 

wilderness of. 429 

Edomites, history of Int. 22 

defeated by Saul 308 

rendered tributary by David.. 329 

subject to Solomon 352 

defeated by Amaziah 464 

Ed rei, Og defeated at 229 

Eglon, king of Moab 259 

slain by Ehud 276 

Egvpt, geography and history of, 

Int. 2-6 
peopled by descendants of Miz- 

raim, son of Ham 7 

Abram, goes thither 21 

Joseph carried thither 61 

Ehud, a judge, delivers Israel from 

Moa bites 276 

Ekron, a government of the Philis- 
tines Til, note 

Elah, son of Baasha, king of Israel. 392 

Elam, son of Shem 16 

Elath 357 

Eleazar, made high priest 226 

dies 267 

brother of Simon the Just.. ..Con. 11 
brother of JudasMaccaba2us..C<m. 27 

Eli, high priest 298 

his criminal leniency toward 

his sons 299 

prophecy of Samuel against 

him 300 

his death :;ui 

Eliab, eldest son o!' .lesse 808 

Eliadah, father of Re/.on 362 

Eliakim, or Jehoiakim, king of 

Judah, son of Josiafa 530 

Eliezer, Abraham's servant 38 

son of Moses 106 

a prophet 398 

Elihu the Buzlte reproves Job and 

his three friends 600 

Elijah, summary of his life... .428, no/r. 
Elilll, Israelites wander to 102 

Elimelech, husband of Naomi 305 



358 



INDEX. 



Sect. 

Eliphaz the Tenianite, Job's friend 599 
Elisha, summary of his life. ...463, note 

Elkanah, father of Samuel 298 

Elkosh, or Elkosha, a village in 

Galilee 637 

Ellasar 24 

Elon,a judge 293 

Endor, witch of, Saul consults her. 320 
Eugedi, David's forbearance there. 317 

English translation of Bible Int. 63 

Enoch, son of Cain 8 

son of Jared, descendant of 

Seth 9 

Enos, son of Seth 9 

Ephod, the 160 

Ephraim, son of Joseph, born 67 

blessed by Jacob 72 

territory of his tribe 263 

Ephraim, wood of, Absalom de- 
feated there 342, note 

Ephrath, Benjamin born and Ra- 
chel buried there 58 

Er,son of Judah and the daughter 

of Shuah 62 

Esarhaddon, colonizes Samaria 507 

reigns 510,554 

Esau, born 40 

sells his birthright 43 

marries Judith andBashemath. 45 

loses his father's blessing 46 

marries Mahalath 48 

meets Jacob on his returu 

from Haran 55 

Esdras, books of. Con. 103, 104 

Eshcol, an Amorite, joins Abram.. 24 

Essenes, a sect of the Jews Con. 93 

Esther, her history 593 

the book of. 593, 594 

apocryphal chapters of Con. 107 

Etam, a rock 296 

Etham, a writer of the Psnlms 604 

Ethbaal, king of the Zidunians, 

father of Jezebel 401 and note 

Ethiopia, geography of.. ...510 and note 
Ethiopians, the, descended from 

Ham 15 

Euphrates, a river of Eden 4 

Eve, created ; given to Adam and 

named by him 4 

tempted; tempts Adam, and 
the curse upon her ; clothed 
in skins and expelled Para- 
dise 5 

her sons 7, 8, 9 

Evilmerodach, releases Jehoiachin. 562 

succeeds Nebuchadnezzar 625 

Exodus, contents of the book p. 68 

Expiation, feast of. 192 

Ezekiel, carried to Babylon by 

Nebuchadnezzar.....". 543 

his life and prophecies 620 

Ezion-geber, a port on the Red Sea. 357 
Jehoshaphat builds a navy 

there 419 

Ezra, probably wrote the Books of 

Chronicles 556 



Sect. 
Ezra, conducts a caravan of Jews 

to Judaea 584 

his governorship 585 

corrects the canon of Scripture. 586 
dies; supposed same as Mala- 

Chi 587 

the book of, Analysis p. 245 

F. 

Fall, the 5 

Firmament created 1 

First-fruits and firstlings 181, 182 

Fishes created 1 

Fornication, law against , 121 

Furniture of the Holv Place. ..141-143 
Most Holy... .144-147 
court 149, 150 

G. 

Gaal, son of Ebed, defeated by 

Abimelech 285 

Gabinius, sent by Pompey to Je- 
rusalem Om. 61 

changes the government... Con. 64 

Gad, son of Zilpah, born 50 

Jacob's prophecy respecting 

him 72 

the territory of his tribe 263 

a prophet, directs David 314 

sent to David 348 

Gadi, father of Menahem 484 

Galileans, the sect of. Con. 102 

Gath, a government of the Philis- 
tines .•277, note 

taken by David 329 

Gath-hepher, in Galilee 635 

Gaza, a government of the Philis- 
tines 277, note 

Samson's exploit there 297 

taken by Hophra, or Apries... 547 
Gedaliah, appointed governor over 

Judah; slain 552 

Gehazi, Elisha's servant ; Naaman's 
leprosy transferred to him, 

430, 463, note 

Genesis, Analysis of p. 35 

Gerar, Abraham removes thither.. 32 

Isaac goes there 44 

Gerizim, temple built on Mount, 

507, and Con. 3 

Gersbom, son of Moses, born 83 

circumcised 85 

brought to him by Jethro 106 

Gershonites, a family of the Levites 164 
For their charge and situation 
see p. 91. 
Geshur, Absalom flies to the king 

of 335 

Geshurites, a nomad race on south- 
ern border of Palestine 261 

David makes excursions against 

them 319 and note 

Gezerites, a nomad race on south- 
ern border of Palestine; 



INDEX. 



359 



Sect. 

David makes excursions 

against them 319 and note 

Gibbcthon, Nadab slain there 383 

Gibeah.a murder in the streets of; 
taken by the eleven tribes, 

273 and note 
Gibeon, a city of the Gibeonites... 258 
Gibeonites, the first of the Nethi- 

nim 165 

deceive Joshua 258 

atonement for Saul's slaughter 

of the 346 

Gideon, judgeship of 279 

called, and throws down altar 

of Baal 210 

defeats the Midianites 281 

refuses to be king; dies 282 

Gilboa, a mountain of Palestine... 245 
defeat and suicide of Saul 

there 321 

Gilead, a mountain of Palestine, 

245 and note 
Gilgal, twelve stones pitched there. 254 

a national assembly at 306 

Girgashites, their position in 

Canaan 23 

war with 261 

Gittites, follow David 338 and note 

Godhead, plurality of persons in.. 2 

Golan, a city of refuge 236 

Goliath, slain by David 310 

Gomer, son of Japheth, father of 

the Cinibri 14 

Gomorrah, Abraham intercedes 

for it 30 

destruction of 31 

Gonorrhoea, purification from 206 

Gorgias Con. 24 

Goshen, land of, assigned to Israel- 
ites 70 and note 

Greeks, the, descended from Ja- 
pheth 14 

H. 

Habakkuk, his prophecies 522, 638 

Hadad, a prince of Edom 362 

Hadadezer, king of Zobah; David's 

victory over 329, :;:;i 

his servant Rezon seizes Da- 
mascus 862, 493, note 

Eadassab, Hebrew name of Est her. 59:! 
Hagar, becomes Abram'a concu- 
bine ; bears [sbmael 27 

exiled 84 

ITaggai, incises the. Jews to recom- 
mence building 578 

his predictions 640 

Hani, son of Noah, cursed 12 

bis posterity 16 

Hainan, a favorite of Ahasuerus, 

banged 593 

Hamotb, a Syrian state 329, 530 

llainor, rather of Shechem 56 

Hanani, the propbet, remonsl rates 

with Asa 881. 890 



Sect. 

Planani, brother of Nehemiah 589 

Hananiah, a false prophet 545 

brother of Nehemiah 5 9 

Hebrew name of Shadrach.... 621 

Hannah, mother of Samuel 298 

Hanun, son of Nahash ; conduct 

to David 331 

Haran, son of Terah, father of 

Lot 19, 20 

a place in Mesopotamia 20 

Hareth, forest of 314 

Harosheth 278 

Haroth-jair — i. e. villages of Jair.. 287 

Havilah. situation of 308 and note 

Hazael, king of Syria; Elijah or- 
dered to anoint him. .410, 428, note 
accession of, foretold by Elisha, 

438, 463, note 
seizes the territory east of 

Jordan 453, 456 

stifles Eenhadad I.; summary 

of history of 492, note 

Hazeroth, Aaron and Miriam sin 

there 220 

Hazor 260, 278 

Heber, the husband of Jael 278 

Hebron, a city of refuge 236 

the king of, defeated by Joshua.259 
Hebron, the sons of Auak driven 

out from 264 

David proclaimed there 323 

Heirships, law respecting 128 

Helam, Hadadezer defeated at 331 

Heliodorus, treasurer of Seleucus 

Pbilopator Con. 15 

Heliopolis, temple built there by 

Onias Con. 29 

Heman, a writer of the Psalms 604 

Hermon, Mount 229, 245 

Herod the Great, temple of 360, note 

appointed governor of Galilee, 

Con. 67 

espouses Mariamne Con. 69 

made tetrarch by Antony. .Con. 70 

escapes to Rome Con. 71 

obtains the kingdom from the 

Triumvirate Con. 72 

reduces Antigonus Con. 73 

massacres the Sanhedrim. ...Tern. 74 
appoints Anancl high priest, 

Con. 75 
deposes him, elevates and 

murders Aristohulus dm. 76 

propitiates Antony Con. 77 

first secret instructions re- 
specting Marianme < bn. 78 

conciliates Augustus; Is con- 
firmed on the throne Con. 79 

second secret instructions re- 
specting Mariamne Cbn. 80 

introduces heathen customs*" W 81 

rebuilds the temple Cbn. s 3 

his generosity Cbn. * I 

execute- Mai iainne's Hons..Cbn. 85 

bis sickness and cruelty. ...Cbn. 88 
executes An! Ipater Cbn. s, » 



360 



INDEX. 



Sect. 
Herod, bis death and character, 

Cow. 90, 91 

Herodians, rise of the Con. 67 

sect of Con. 102 

Hezekiah, king of Judah, breaks 

brazen serpent 228, 502 

sonof Ahaz, duration of reign. 501 
restores the worship of Jeho- 
vah 504 

rebels against Shalmaneser.... 506 

submits to Sennacherib 508 

his sickness; fifteen years 

added to his life 511 

his vanity 512 

peaceful state of Judah 513 

Hezion. See Rezon. 

Hiddekel, the, a river of Eden 4 

Hiel, the Bethelite, rebuilds Jeri- 
cho 256, 418 

High priest, the, his office 157 

his typical character 158 

his robes, etc 159-163 

history of them to return from 

the Captivity p. 252 

Hilkiah, father of Jeremiah, finds 

a copy of the Law 524 

Hinnom, valley of 515 

Hippod roine, the, at Jericho ; Jews 

shut up in it Con. 89 

Hirah, a Canaamte 62 

Hiram, king of Tyre, assists David. 326 

an ally of Solomon 357 

Historical books, account of Int. 56 

History of Susanna Con. 112 

Hittites, the, their position in 

Canaan 23 

conquered by Joshua 261 

Hivites, conquered by Joshua 261 

Hobab, brother-in-law of Moses... 216 

Hobah, north of Damascus 24 

Hoham, king of Hebron, slain by 

Joshua 259 

Holofernes, beheaded by Judith, 

Con. 106 
Hophni, son of Eli, misconduct of. 299 

di ath of 301 

Hophra (see Pharaoh) 547 

Hor, Mount, Aaron dies there 226 

Horeb, Mount, Moses called at 84 

Elijah goes there 410 

Hormah ("utter destruction"), 

Canaanites defeated at 227 

Hosea, his prophecies and time, 

469-631 
Hoshea, king of Israel, son of Elah, 

slays Pekah 495 

duration of reign 497 

allows Hezekiah to invite the 

people to the passover 498 

made tributary to Shalma- 
neser 500 

rebels, and is imprisoned 503 

TTuldah, the prophetess 524 

Hur, holds up Moses' hands 105 

with Aaron, has the charge of 
the people 109 



Sect. 
Ilushai, the Archite, joins Absa- 
lom 338 

defeats Ahithophel's coun- 
sel 310 

Hyrcanus, John, escapes to Jeru- 
salem Con. 42 

succeeds Simon as high priest, 

Con. 43 
besieged by AntiochusSidetes, 

Con. 44 
regains his independence; 
raises Asamonean power.... Ton. 45 

joins the Sadducees Con. 46 

Hyrcanus II., son of Alexandra, 

high priest Con. 55 

resigns the kingdom and High 

priesthood Con. 57 

Pompey arbitrates between 

him and Aristobulus Con. 60 

restored by Pompey Con. 61 

confirmed by Gabinius in high 

priesthood Con. 64 

joins Malichus Con. 69 

barbarously mutilated Con. 71 

I. 

Ibzan, a judge 292 

Iddo, grandfather of Zechariah... 641 

Idolatry, law against 112 

Injuries, corporal, law of 117 

Isaac, horn 33 

Abraham commanded to offer 

him 36 

a type of Christ 36, note 

marries Rebekah 38 

Jacob and Esau born 40 

goes to Gerar and deceives 

Abimelech 44 

blesses Jacob 46 

Jacob comes to reside with 

him; his death 60 

Isaiah, begins to prophesy 480 

his predictions to Ahaz 491 

his life and period 613 

scope of his prophecies 614 

chief subjects of his prophe- 
cies 615 

his prophecies of the Messiah. 616 

Iscah (see Sarai) 19 

Ishbi-benob, a gigantic Philistine, 

slain byAbishai 347 

Ishbosheth, son of Saul, reigns 

over eleven tribes 323 

quarrels with Abner 324 

murdered by his twocaptains. 325 
Ishmael, son of Hairar, born ; 

prophecy respecting him 27 

exiled; becomes a great ar- 
cher; his children, and 

death 34 

Ishmaelites, Joseph sold to them., 61 
Israel. See Jacob. 

history of the divided mon- 
archy of 365 

Issachar, son of Leah, born 50 



INDEX. 



361 



Sect. 
Issachar, Jacob's prophecy re- 
specting him 72 

the territory of his trihe 263 

Issus, Darius routed at Con. 5 

Ithamar, voungest son of Aaron... 231 
Ittai, the Gittite, follows David.... 338 

sent to battle hy David 341 

Ituraea, subdued by Aristobulus, 

Con. 48 

J. 

Jabal, son of Adah and Lamech... 8 

Jabbok, a river 245 

Jabesh-^ilead, four hundred vir- 
gins of, sent to the Benja- 

niites 274 

besieged by Nahash 306 

Jabesh-gileadites bury the bodies 

of Saul and bis sons 321 

Jabin, king of Hazor, defeated by 

Joshua 260 

defeated by Barak 278 

Jacob, born : why so named 40 

obtains Esau's birthright 43 

his father's blessing... 46 

goes to Lalian ; bis dream 47 

marries Leah and Rachel 49 

his family 50 

bis new covenant with Laban.. 51 
leaves, and is pursued by 

Laban ; reconciled 52 

his vision at Mahanaini ; mes- 
sage to Esau 53 

wrestles with a man at Peniel ; 

name changed to Israel 54 

meeting with Esau 55 

dwells at Succotb 56 

buries the idols and goes to 
Bethel; God's promise re- 
in wed 57 

leaves Bethel 58 

joins his father at Mature 60 

deceived by his children 61 

scuds his sons to Egypt for 

corn 68 

sends Benjamin 69 

goes to Egypl 70 

his dving acts and prophecies. 72 

their fulfilment 73 

bis death and burial 74 

Jaddua, sou of Jonathan, high 

priest Con. 3 

Jaddua, saluted by Alexander. ..Con. 5 

Jael, slavs Sisera " 278 

Jahaziel, a prophet 398 

.lair, a judge 287 

Janinia. a seaport on the .Mediter- 
ranean Con. 24 

Japheth, son of Noah 12 

his posterity 14 

Japhia, sing of Lachisb, slain by 

Joshua 259 

Jarmuth, Piraui,king of, slain by 

Joshua 259 

Jared, rather of Enoch 9 

Jaaher, book of 260, note, and 269 

31 



Sect. 
Jason, introduces Greek idolatry 

among the Jews Om. 16 

supplanted by Menelaus in 

high priesthood Con. 17 

Javan, descendant of Japheth, fa- 
ther of the Greeks 14 

Jebusites, position in Canaan 23 

subdued by Joshua 261 

Jerusalem taken from them 

by David 326 

Jeconiah. See Jehoiachin. 
Jeduthun,a writer of the Psalms... 604 
Jehoahaz, king of Israel, son of 

Jehu; duration of reign 457 

his idolatry; oppressed by 

Hazael, etc 458 

Jehoahaz, king of Judah, son of 

Josiah 5°9 

deposed by Necho 530 

Jehoash, king of Judah, son of 

Ahaziah ; duration of reign. 448 
restores the worship of Je- 
hovah 449 

repairs the temple 452 

worships Baal; commands 
Zeehariah to be stoned.. ... 454 

bribes Hazael 456 

slain by his servants 459 

Jehoash, king of Israel, son of Je- 
hoahaz; duration of reign... 461 
his idolatry ; Elisha's promise, 

463 and note 
defeats Syrians three times... 465 

defeats Amaziah 467 

Jehoiachin, king of Judah, son of 
Jehoiakim; duration of 

reign 542 

carried away captive by Nebu- 
chadnezzar 543 

Jehoiada. the high priest 446 

resent 449 

his death 454 

Jehoiakim, son of Josiah; dura- 
tion of rcien 531 

Jeremiah and Urijah prophesy 

against him 532 

charged by Jeremiah with 

murder of Urijah 533 

made tributary by Nebuchad- 
nezzar 537 

seeks to destroy Jeremiah 538 

revolts 539 

slain 540 

Jehonadab, the son of Kechah, 

meets Jehu 445 

obedience of Rechahitea to.... 534 
Jehoram, king of Israel, son of 

Ahah; duration of reign.... 126 

his idolatry 427 

allies with Jeho«haphal 4?9 

seeks to slav KIM, a 4S3 

slain hy Jeliu 441 

Jehoram. king of Judah, son of 
Jehoshaphat ; duration of 

reign 134 

his idolatry 485 



362 



INDEX. 



Seel. 
Jehoratn, king of Judah.his death. 4:J6 
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, son 

of Asa; duration of reign.. 398 

worships Jehovah 400 

organizes the national educa- 
tion 402 

fortifies Juriah ; levies an 

army 404 

appoints judges 407 

flourishing state of his king- 
dom 408 

his affinity with Ahah 409 

nearly killed at Ramoth 415 

rebuked by Jehu 416 

tries to revive t lie commerce 

of Solomon, etc 419 

defeats Moabites and Ammon- 
ites 422 

allies with Jehoram 4 9 

Jehosheha, wife of Jehoiada, saves 

Joash 446 

Jehovah-jireh ("the Lord will pro- 
vide"), so called by Abra- 
ham 36 

Jehovah-nissi("the Lord my ban- 
ner"), an altar built by 

Moses 105 

Jehu, son of Hanani, a prophet... 389 
Jehu, son of Nimshi, anointed 
king of Israel ; slays Aha- 

ziah and Jehoram 441, 442 

king of Israel; duration of 

reign 444 

slays Jezebel 445 

destroys Baal's worshippers.... 450 

his idolatry 455 

Jephthah, judgeship of 288 

captain of a band of men in 

Tob 289 

sends to the king of Amnion. 290 
defeats Ammonites; his vow... 291 

Jeremiah, prophesies 521-531 

prophesies against Jehoiakim. 532 
charges him with the murder 

of Urijah 533 

foretells seventy years' cap- 
tivity 534 

prophecies publicly read 538 

writes to the captives of Baby- 
lon 545 

cast into a pit 549 

his prophecy against Zede- 

kiah 550 

his life and period 617 

Jericho, spies sent thither 253 

taken hv Joshua 256 

rebuilt by Hiel 418 

Jeroboam, son of Nebat, prom- 
ised the government of ten 
tribes hy Ahijah ; flies to 

Egypt 362 

returns from Egypt 364 

king of Israel ; duration of 

reign 371 

fortifies Shechem 373 

his idolatry 374 



Sect. 
Jeroboam, man of God sent to; his 

band withered ;J77 

Ahijah's prophecy against 

him 380 

Jeroboam II., son of Joash ; du- 
ration of reign 169 

Jonah's promise 471 

recovers all Hazael had taken 

away; his idolatry 473 

Jerubbaal (" let Baal plead"), name 

given to Gideon 280 

Jerusalem, taken by David 326 

description of..." 326, note 

capital of Judah; called Sa- 
lem and Jebus p. 201 

taken by Joash, king of Is- 
rael 467 

Nebuchadnezzar... 550 

sacked by Nebuzaradan 551 

Alexander visits Con. 5 

taken by Antiochus Epiph- 

anes Con. 18 

Pompev Con. 61 

Herod "the Great. Con. 73 

Jeshua, grandson of Seraiah 572 

high priest 574 

Jesse, son of Obed 305 

father of David 309 

Jesus. See Jason. 

Jethro, priest of Midian; bis 

daughters meet with Moses. 83 

his advice to Moses 106 

Jewish constitution, account of, 

133 and note 
See Assemblies, legislative. 
connection of the tribes with 

each other 137 

the tribunal of seventy insti- 
tuted by Moses 138 

Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, mar- 
ries Ahah 401 

persecutes the prophets 405 

threatens Elijah 410 

advises A hub to seize Naboth's 

vineyard 414 

slain by Jehu 445 

Joab, son of Zeruiah, slays Abner. 324 

made chief captain 326 

conquers Ammonites and Syr- 
ians 331 

reduces Rabbah 333 

mediates between Absalom 

and David 336 

marches against Absalom 341 

slays Absalom 342 

superseded in command by 

Ainasa 344 

slays Amasa 345 

remonstrates with David on 
his numbering the people. 348 

slain by Benaiah 353 

his character 354 

Joash, father of Gideon 280 

See JEHOASH. 
Job, chronology of the time of..... 595 
his country 596 



INDEX. 



363 



Sect. 
Job, his condition and character.. 597 

afflicted by Satan 598 

visited by his three friends.... 599 

reproved by Elibn 600 

Jehovah appears to him 601 

is restored to prosperity 602 

prophetical intimation of Mes- 
siah in book of. 603 

Jochebed, mother of Moses 82 

Joel, son of Samuel 302 

Joel, prophesies 470, 632 

Johauan, a chief officer of Geda- 

liah 552 

John Hyrcanus. See Hyrcanus. 

Jonah, prophesies 451 

his history; sent against Nin- 
eveh 635 

Jonathan, son of Saul : his heroic 

conduct 307 

his friendship with David 312 

his death 321 

Jonathan, son of Abiathar 338 

the high priest Con.2 

(See Maccab.eus) Con. 31 

Joram, son ofToi, kiugof Hatuath, 

visits David 329 

See Jehoeam. 
Jordan, the, crossed by the Israel- 
ites 254 

Joseph, son of Rachel, born 50 

sold by his brethren 61 

sold to Potiphar and cast into 

prison 63 

interprets the dreams of the 

butl r and the baker 64 

interprets the dreams of Pha- 
raoh 65 

made chief ruler of Egypt; 

marries Asenath '..* 66 

his sons 66 

his brethren visit him 68 

a second time ; 
sends for his father and fam- 
ily 69 

his policy during the famine, 

71, note 
Jacob's prophecy respecting 

him 72 

buries Jacob 74 

again forgives his brethren... 75 

death and burial 76 

a type Of Christ 77 

burial of his bones in Canaan. 267 

Joseph, a son of Antipater ('on. am 

executed by Herod the Great, 

Con. 78 
Joshua, previous life of; his name 

Changed 252 and note 

defeats the Atnalekites 105 

attends Moses in the mount... 109 

one of the twelve spies ; his 
conduct 222 

appointed Moa «' suecessor.285, 239 

semis spies to Jericho 253 

ei oases i be Jordan 254 

an angel appear.-, to him 255 



Sect. 

Joshua, takes Jericho 256 

takes Ai ; punishes Achan 257 

allies with the Gibeouites 258 

defeats Adonizedek and four 

kings 259 

defeats Northern kings 260 

divides Canaan among the 

tribes 263 

district assigned to him 264 

his last days and death 266, 267 

Joshua, book of, Analysis of its 

contents p. 136 

Joshua, a Bethsbemite 302 

Joshua, slain in the temple by his 

brother Jonathan Con. 2 

Josiah, king of Judah, son of 

Anion; duration of reign... 518 

worships Jehovah 519 

repairs the temple 523 

throws down the altar of Je- 
roboam 525 

celebrates the passover 526 

slain 528 

Jotham, Gideon's son 283 

his parable of the trees 284 

Jotham, king of Judah, son of 

Uzziah ; duration of reign.. 481 

reigns righteously 483 

Jubal, sou of Lamech and Adah, 

descendant of Cain 8 

Jubilee, the 195 

Judah, son of Leah, born 50 

proposes to sell Joseph 61 

marries the daughter of Shu- 
ah ; his sons, and incest 

with Tamar 62 

his address to Joseph 69 

Jacob's prophecy respecting 

him 72 

the territory of his tribe 263 

defeats Adonibezek 270 

prefatory history of the king- 
dom 365 

Judas Maccabaeus. See Maccab- 

jevs. 
Judges, book of, obscurity of chro- 
nology, and Analysis of its 

contents p. 145 

Judgeships, the 275-296 

Judith, book of Con. 106 

K. 

Kadeah-barnea, spies sent thence. 221 

Israelites return thither 225 

Kadmonites, a people of Canaan.. 23 

Kedesh,a city of refuge 2;;o 

Keilah. David rescues it from the 

Philistines 316 

Cenites, a people of Canaan 2:i 

Kenizzites, a people of Cauaan 28 

Keturab marries Abraham; her 

sons 89 

Kibroth-liattaavali (''the graves 
of lu-i ' , i »raelltes mur- 
mur there for flesh 21s 



564 



INDEX. 



Sect. 

Kings, Analytical Table of p. 106 

Kir-haraseth, capital of Moabites, 
besieged bv Jehoram and 

Jehoshaphat 429 

Kish, fatber of Saul 303 

Kishon, a river of Palestine 245 

Baal's prophets slaughtered 

at 406 

Kohathites, a family of the Le- 

vites 164 

their charge and situation. ...p 91 

Koran, rebellion of. 223 

Psalms ascribed to the sons of. 604 

L. 

Laban, brother of Rebekab 47 

•welcomes Jacob ; deceives him. 49 

new covenant with Jacob 51 

puisnes Jacob; is reconciled 

to him 52 

Laborasoarchod,sonofNeriglissor. 564 
son-in-law of Nebuchadnezzar. 625 
Labynetus, name given to Bel- 

shazzar by Herodotus 565 

Lachish, reduced by Joshua 259 

Amaziah slain there 468 

Laish, taken by Danites; called 

Dan 272 

Lamech, son of Methusael, de- 
scendant of Cain 8 

son of Methuselah, father of 

Noah 9 

Lamentations, book of. 619 

Land, dry, created 1 

Landmarks, law respecting 124 

Language, original, of the Old Tes- 
tament Int. 60 

but one after the death of 

Noah 17 

Lapidoth, husband of Deborah.... 278 

Laver, the 150 

Law, the moral, given 108 

the ceremonial 109 

Lawyers Con. 101 

Leah, daughter of Laban, marries 

Jacob 49 

her children 50 

Lebi, Samson taken there 296 

Leprosv, how Moses acted respect- 
ing 207 

different kinds 208 

first, in man 209 

laws, for distinguishing 210 

purification from 211 

second, in houses 212 

third, in clothes 213 

Levi, son of Leah, born 50 

bis cruelty to the Shechem- 

ites 56 

Jacob's prophecy respecting 

him 72 

the tribe, slay 3000 of the idol- 
aters 110 

devoted to temple-service..l53-l<>4 
Levites, the 164 



Sect 
Leviticus, Analysis of its con- 
tents .". p. 96 

typical intimations in 214 

Libnah, reduced by Joshua 259 

besieged by Sennacherib 509 

Light, creation of 1 

Lot, son of Haran 19 

leaves Ur with Abram 20 

dwells at Sodom 22 

rescued by Abram 24 

escapes from Sodom ; fate of 
his- wile; incest with bis 

daughters 31 

Lud, descendant of Shem, father 

of Lydians 16 

Lydians, the, descended from 

Shem 16 

Lysias invades .J udsea ; defeated by 

Judas Maccabteus 25 

Lysimachus, a general of Alex- 
ander Con. 9 

M. 

Maacah, a king in North Pales- 
tine 331 

Maachah, grandmother of Asa, de- 
posed by him 384 

Maachathites", war with 261 

Maccabseus (Hammerer), Judas, 

third son of Mattathias...Om. 20 
restores the temple; institutes 

feast of dedication Con. 22 

his victories Con. 24,25 

his wars Con. 24-27 

peace with Syria Con. 25, 28 

defeats force of Demetrius 

Soter Con. 29 

allies with Rome; slain Con. 30 

Jonathan, brother of Judas, 
chosen leader bv the peo- 
ple '. Con. 31 

war with Baechides Con. 32 

made high priest Om. 33 

assists Antiochus Con. 35 

allies with Rome and Lacedae- 

mon ; fortifies Judaea Con. 36 

falls by the treachery of Try- 

phoD Con. 37 

Simon, second son of Mat- 
tat hias Con. 20 

succeeds Jonathan Con. 38 

completes fortifications; re- 
duces Acra Con. 39 

public memorial of his acts; 
his powers recognized by 

Rome Con. 40 

bis murder Con. 41 

Maccabees, rule of Con. 20 

books of Con. 115-117 

Machir, son of Ammicl, succors 

David 341 

Machpclah, cave of, purchased; 
the burial-place of Sarah, of 

Rebekab, and of Leah 37 

of Abraham 41 



INDEX. 



365 



Sect. 
Machpelah, burial-place of Jacob. 74 

of Joseph 267 

Madai, faiher of Medes, descend- 
ant of Japheth 14 

Magog, father of Scythians, de- 
scendant of Japheth 14 

Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, de- 
scendant of Seth 9 

Mahalath, daughter of Ishraael... 34 

marries Esau 48 

Mahanaim ("God's host"), Jacob 

met by angels there 53 

Makkedah,caveof, live kings take 

refuge in 259 

Malachi, prophesies 592 

bis prophecies 642 

Malichus, poisons Antipater; death 

of Con. 68 

faction of Con. 69, 70 

Marnre, Ahrani dwells there, 

22 and note 

an Amorite, assists Abram 24 

Man created and hlessed 1-3 

Manasseh, son of Joseph ; born... 67 

hlessed by Jacob 72 

territory of his trihe..263 and note 
Manasseh, king of Judah, son of 

Hezekiah ; duration of reign. 514 

his idolatry 515 

Manasseh, carried into captivity 

by Esarhaddon 516 

Prayer of Con. 114 

Manasses, high priest of Samaria, 

Con. 3 

Manna, sent 102 

properties of; Aaron lays up 

an omer 103 

a type of Christ 152 

ceases 255 

Manoah, a Dauite, father of Sam- 
son 296 

Manslaughter, law against 116 

Maon, wilderness of; David goes 

there 316 

Marah (" bitter "), Muses heals the 

water of 102 

Marathon, battle of 582 

Mariamne, granddaughter of Hyr- 

canus, espoused to Herod".... 68 

her marriage 73 

first secrei instructions re- 

Bpecting her 78 

second Becrel Instructions re- 

BpeCting her, and death 80 

her -"lis executed 85 

Marriage, instituted i and note 

unlawful marriages 119 

ii (" temptation "), (see 
Mbbibab 101 

Mattan, a pi i> -i of Baal, slain by 

Jeboiada 449 

Mattaniah, king of Jndali (see 

Zim.ki am i 543 

Mattal bias, a priest ; revolt of Jews 
under; father of Judas Mac- 
cabeus Con. 20 

31 * 



Matri, Saul's family 303 

Matrimonial laws 119-122 

Medes, descended from Japheth... 14 
Media, History and Geography of, 

Int. 48, 49 

Megabyzus 588 

Megiddo, Ahaziab slain at 442 

Josiah slain in valley of. 528 

Mehujael, son of Irad, descendant 

of Cain 8 

Melchizedek, king of Salem ; meets 

Abram 24 

his character and office 25 

psalms ascrihed to him 604 

Menahem, king of Israel, assassi- 
nates Shallum 482 

his idolatry; duration of reign. 484 

bribes Pul" 486 

Mene 627 

Menelaus, supplants Jason in high 

priesthood Con. 17 and note 

guides Antiochus into the 

temple Con. 18 and note 

Menses, purification from 206 

Men-stealing, law against 125 

Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan; 

adopted by David 330 

falsely reported to David by 

Ziba 338 

testifies his loyalty to David... 343 

Merab, Saul's eldest daughter 310 

promised to David 311 

Merarites, a family of the Levites. 164 
(For their charge and situa- 
tion see p. 91.) 

Mercy-seat, the 145 

Meribah ("strife"), Moses and 

Aaron sin there 104, 225 

Merodach-baladan, king of Baby- 
lon, sends to Hezekiah 512 

Merom, the waters of 245, 260 

Meschech, father of Muscovites, 

descendant of Japheth 14 

Meshach, given as a hostage to 

Nebuchadnezzar 537 

(Hebrew Mishael), educated at 

Babylon 621 

cast into the fiery furnace 62;! 

Mesopotamia, History and Geog- 
raphy of Int. 3!) 

Messiah, prophecies and typical 

intimations of 643 et seq. 

Methusael, son of Mehujael, de- 
scendant of Cain 8 

Methuselah, son of Enoch, oldest 

Of all men 9 

Micah, a native of Mount Eph- 

raim ; idolatry of 272 

Micah, the prophet, prophesies.... 185 

his prophecy 636 

Micaiah, prophesies ■'''.''■> 

Sent lor by Abab 415 

Michal, Saul's daughter, marries 

David :;ii 

assists David's Bight 312 

given to Phalli 318 



366 



INDEX. 



Sect. 

Miobal, restored to David 824 

reproves him 328 

Michmash 307 

Midian, Moses flees thither 83 

son of Abraham and Keturah, 

progenitor of Midianit.es 39 

Midianires, the, descended from 

Midian 39 

defeated by the Israelites 232 

harass the Israelites 279 

defeated by Gideon 281 

Milcali, daughter of Haran, mar- 
ries Nahor 19 

grandmother of Rebekah 38 

Minnith 291 

Miriam, sister of Moses 101 

sedition; smitten with lep- 
rosy 220 

her death 225 

Miscellaneous precepts 131 

Mishael, Hebr. name of Meshach... 621 

Mitre, the 163 

Mizpeh, Samuel assembles Israel 

at 302 

Mizraim, father of the Egyptians, 

descendant of Ham" 15 

Moab, his birth 31 

Moabites, history of Int. 20 

descended from Moab 31 

10 000 slain by Ehud 276 

defeated bv Saul 308 

by David 319 

subject to Solomon 352 

defeated by Je.hoshaphat 422 

Molech, worshipped bv Solomon... 362 

by Ahaz 488 

Moon, created 1 

Morastbi.Micah born there 636 

Morderai, carried to Babylon by 

Nebuchadnezzar 543 

honored 593 

Moreh, A brain goes there.. 21 and note 
Moriah, Mount, Abraham tempt- 
ed to offer Isaac there 36 

Jerusalem built on it 326, note 

temple built on it 359 

Moses (" saved from water"), born. 82 

writer of Pentateuch Om. 55 

flight to Midian ; marries Zip- 

porab 83 

called at Horeb 81 

returns to Egypt; circumcises 

his son 85 

stands before Pharaoh... 86 

leads Israelites out of Egypt.. 98 

divides the Red Sea 101 

heals water at Marah 102 

commands Joshua to attack 

the Amalekites 105 

visited by Jethro 106 

ascends Mount Sinai 109 

reprimands Aaron for idola- 
try 110 

reasceoda Mount Sinai Ill 

consecrates Aaron and his 
sons 166 



Sect. 

I Moses, institutes festivals 187 

numbers the twelve tribes 216 

appoints seventy elders to as- 
sist in governing 219 

sends out the twelve spies 221 

his sin at Meribah 225 

puts the sacerdotal garments 

on Eleazar 226 

sets up the brazen serpent 228 

reviews the people in plains 

of Moab 233 

appoints Joshua his succes- 
sor 235, 239 

appoints the cities of refuge... 2:!0 

his last acts and death 239 

review of his life and charac- 
ter 240 

Mountains of Canaan 2-15 

Murder, law against 116 

Muscovites, descended from Ja- 

pheth 14 

Mycale, battle of. 582 

W. 

Naamah, daughter of Lamech and 

Zillah 8 

Naaman, his leprosy cured by Eli- 

sha 430 

Nabal, husband of Abigail, death 

of 318 

Nabonad, name given to Belshaz- 

zar by Josephus 5G5 

Nabopolassar, an Assyrian gene- 
ral, king of Cbaldees, and 
father of Nebuchadnezzar... 535 

Naboth, his vineyard coveted by 

Abab; his death 414 

Nadab, son of Aaron, with Abihu 

attends Moses in the mount. 109 

Nadab and Abihu, their sin 169 

Nadab, king of Israel, son of Je- 
roboam ; duration of reign.. 382 
his idolatry; slain by Ba- 
asba 383 

Nahash, king of the Ammonites, 

defeated by Saul 306 

death of. 331 

Nahor, bis descent and age 18 

marries Milcah 19 

grandfather of Rebekah 38 

Nahum, the prophet 637 

Naioth, Samuel takes David thith- 
er 312 and note 

Naomi, mother-in-law of Ruth 305 

Naphtali, son of Bilhah, born 50 

Jacob's prophecy respecting 

him 72 

territory of his tribe 263 

Nathan, a prophet, forbids David 

to build a temple 328 

reproves him for his sin 382 

proclaims Solomon king 349 

Nazaritism 201 

Nebat, father of Jeroboam :;71 

Nebo, Mount 245, note 



INDEX. 



367 



Sect. 

Nebuchadnezzar, son of Nabopo- 

lassar 535 

defeats Pharaoh-Neclio 586 

takes Jerusalem, etc 637 

besieges Jerusalem, carries 
captive Ezekiel and Morde- 

cai 543 

slays the sons and puts out 

the eyes of Zedekiali 550 

erects a golden image 558 

conquers Tyre, etc 559 

beautifies Babylon 560 

his insanity 561 

his restoration and death.. 624, 561 

Nebuchadonosor 527 

Nebuzaradan sacks Jerusalem 251 

Necho. See Pharaoh. 
Neheraiah, book of, Analysis of.. p. 253 
appointed governor of J udiea. 5S8 
rebuilds the walls, etc. of Je- 
rusalem 589 

his first administration 590 

second 591 

Neriglissor, son-in-law of Neb- 
uchadnezzar 563 

Nethaneel, a son of Jesse 309 

Nethinim, the 165 

origin of. 258 

New moon, festival of 313 and note 

Nimrod, son of Cush 17 

founds the kingdom of Babel. 554 

Nimshi, father of Jehu 444 

Nineveh, or Nimroud 486, note 

Sennacherib flies to 510 

taken by Cyaxares and Nabo- 

polassar 535 

Jonah sent by God to 635 

Nisroch, Sennacherib slain in the 

temple of 510 and note 

Nitocris, mother of B< Ishazzar 560 

completes unfinished works 

of Nebuchadnezzar 565 

Noah, son of Lantech, born 9 

builds the ark 10 

leaves the ark and sacrifices 

to Jehovah 11 

prophecies concerning his 

sons 12 

his posterity 13-16 

>'oh, Saul massacres the priests at. 315 

Numbers, book of, Analysis of.. .p. 120 

typical intimations in -238 

O. 

Obadiah, governor of Abab's 

house, ("•••■ds the prophets... 105 

meets Elijah 406 

Obadiah, the prophet 631 

Obed, Bon of Ruth, father of Jesse. 805 

Obed the prophet 490 

Obed-edom, David leaves the ark 

in hi* house 828 

Oblations 167 

first, ordinary 17s 

second, free 179 



Sect. 

Oblations, third, prescribed 180 

See Dkqjk-Offkrings 185 

Oded, the prophet, remonstrates 

with Pekah 492 

Offerings, first, burnt- 169 

second, peace- 170 

third, sin- 171-175 

fourth, trespass- 176 

drink- 185 

Og, king of Bashan, defeated by 

Israelites 229 and note 

Old Testament, world of. Int. 1 

Critical History of. p. 25 

Olives, Mount of, Solomon erects 

high places on 362 

Orari, king of Israel, besieges 

Zimri 395 

his party prevails over that 

of Tibni 396 

builds Samaria; death of. 397 

On, or Heliopolis 66, note 

Ouan, son of Judah and the Ca- 

naanite 62 

Ophir 357, 419 

Ophrah, in Manasseh 280 

Oreb, prince of the Midianites; 

slain by Ephraimhes 281 

Orpah, daughter-in-law of Naomi. 305 
Othniel, takes Debir; marries 

Achsah 264 

judgeship ; delivers the people. 275 
Ozem, a son of Jesse 309 

P. 

Palestine, Geography of, and His- 
tory at different periods. ..Int. 23 

description of 245 

early inhabitants of 246 

the highway between Egypt 

and the Asiatic empires 251 

Palmyra, or Tadmor, built by .Sol- 
omon 357 

Paran, wilderness of 216 

David goes there 318 

Parents, law against disobedience 

to 115 

Passover, instituted 97 

described 188 

a type of the Messiah 196 

kept by Joshua 255 

by Bezekiah 504 

Pekah, king of Israel, assassinates 

Pekahiah 489 

son of Itemaliab; duration of 

reign 490 

allies with Rezin invades .lu- 
dab I'll 

second invasion 492 

slain by lloslna 495 

Pekahiah. king of Israel, son 
of Menaheru ; duration of 

reign ; bis death iso 

Peleg, son of Eber is 

Pelitliitrs, follow David 888 

march against Amasa 84S 



368 



INDEX. 



Sect. 
Peniel (" face of God "), name giv- 
en by Jacob 54 

Peninnah, wife of Elkanah 298 

Pentateuch Int. 55 

Pentecost, feast of 189 

a type of the Messiah 196 

Peres 627 and note 

Perizzites, the, their position in 

Canaan 23 

subdued by Joshua 261 

Persia, Geography and History 

of Int.5C> 

Pethor, in Mesopotamia 230 

Pethuel, father of Joel 632 

Petra, taken by Pompey 61 

Phalti, son of Laish, Michal given 

to 318 

Pharaoh, different dynasties of. ..Int. 4 

deceived by Abrani 21 

his dreams interpreted by Jo- 
seph 64 

commands male infants of 
Hebrews to be destroyed... 81 

his death 83 

to whom Moses is sent 83 

pursues the Hebrews 101 

Pharaoh-Hophra. See Apries. 

Pharaoh-Necho, invasion of 528 

Pharez, son of Judah and Tamar. 62 
Pharisees, the, become a political 

faction Con. 46 

a sect of the Jews Con. 94 

their tenets Con. 95 

practices Con. 96 

Phasael, son of Antipater, made 

governor of Jerusalem. ..Con. 67 
made a tetrarch of Pales- 
tine Con. 70 

commits suicide Con. 71 

Pheroras, son of Antipater Con. 67 

plots against Herod ; his death, 

Con. 86 

Philip Con. 28 

a son of Herod the Great... Con. 90 
Philistia, Geographv and History 

of. .". Int. 36, 37 

Philistines, their origin { 2 78,'t<2 

attack the southern Jewish 
tribes; repulsed by Sham- 
gar 277 

forty years' oppression of 295 

defeated by Samson 296 

defeat Israelites at Ehenezer. 301 

defeated by Saul 307 

by David 310 

defeat Saul 321 

defeated by David 327-329 

David's last expedition against 

them 347 

subject to Solomon 352 

tributary to Jehoshaphat 408 

smitten by Hezekiah 506 

Phi neb as, son of Eleazar, slays 

Zimri and Cozbi 231 

Phinehas,son of Eli, misconduct of 299 



Sect. 

Phinehas, son of Eli, death of 301 

Phoenicia, Geographv and His- 
tory of .". Int. 11, 12 

Phoenicians, descended from If am. 15 

account of 248 

Phut, father of Libyans, son of 

Ham 15 

Pihahiroth, Israelites encamp at.. 100 
Moses divides the Red Sea 

at 101 

Piram, king of Jarmuth, slain by 

Joshua „ 259 

Pisgah, Moses views Land of Prom- 
ise from 239 

Pison, a river of Eden 4 

Pithom, a treasure-city, built by 

Israelites 81 

Plagues, the ten 87-98 

individual design and cha- 
racter of. 98, note 

Platsea, battle of. 582 

Pledges, law respecting 127 

Poetical books, account of Int. 57 

Pollio, a mem ber of the Sanhedrim, 

Con. 74 
Pompey, reduces Ccele-Syria.... Con. 60 

takes Jerusalem Con. 61 

death of Con. 66 

Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh's 

guard, Joseph sold to 63 

Potipherah, priest of On, father- 
in-law of Joseph 66 

Prayer of Manasses 114 

Prie'sts, the 153 

classification of. 153 

their duties and requirements; 
family of Aaron appointed.. 154 

dress 155 

sources of their livelihood 156 

divided into twenty -four 

courses by David 156, note 

four courses return from 

Babylon 581 

Prophets, their chronological or- 
der p. 266 

Prophetical books, account of. ..Int. 58 
Proverbs, the book of, authorship 

and scope 608 

Psalms, the book of, authorship... 604 

subjects 605 

classification 606 

occurrence of word Selah io... 607 
Psammetichus, father of Pharaoh- 
Necho 528 

Psammis, son of Pharaoh-Necho.. 547 
Ptolemies, government under...Cbn. 10 
Ptolemy I., Lagus, takes Jerusa- 
lem Con. 8 

his provinces Con. 9 

II., Philadelphia; Eleazar 

sends 70 elders to Con. 12 

III., Euergetes Con. 13 

IV., Philopator, enters the 

Holy of Holies Con. 13 

V., Epiphanes Con. 14 

Puah, a Hebrew midwife 81 



INDEX. 



369 



Pul, king of Assyria, invades 

Israel 486, 554 

Purifications, first, as a religious 

ceremonial 205 

second, from personal unclean- 

ness 206 

third, from leprosy 207-213 

Purim, least of. 193 

origin of 594 



Kaamses, a treasure-citv, built by 

Israelites. ." 81 

Kabbah, Joab sent bv David to be- 
siege 331 

taken by David 333 

Rabshakeh, sent bv Sennacherib 

to Hezekiah..". 509 

Rachel, daughter of Laban, mar- 
ries Jacob 49 

her children 50 

steals Laban's images 52 

death and burial of 58 

Raddai, a son of Jesse 309 

Ragaba Con. 54 

Raguel. S-'e Jetiiro. 

Rahab, hides the spies; their 

promise to her 253 

"with her family, saved 256 

Raman, David goes there 312 

fortified 389,390 

Rameses, Israelites leave 100 

Ramoth-gilead, a city of refuge... 236 

Abab defeated there 415 

Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel, 

marries Isaac 38 

assists the deception of Jacob. 46 
Esau's threat reported to her.. 47 

buried at Machphelah 37 

Rechal), a captain and murderer 
of Ishbosheth; slain by 

David 325 

father of Jehonadab 445 

Rechabites, the 201 and note, 534 

Red Sea, passage of 101 

Refuge, cities of, law respecting... 116 

appointed by Moses 236 

Rehoboam, king of Judah, son of 
Solomon and Naainab ; ten 

tribes revolt from him 364 

duration of reign 370 

assembles an army to recover 

Israel 372 

rebuked by Shemaiah 375 

Uephaims, the, their position in 

Canaan 23 

Rephidim, j lurney oflsraelites to. 104 

lt'ii, son oi Peleg IS 

Reuben, eldest son of Leah, born. 50 

his incest with Billiah 5!) 

opposes the killing of Joseph. 01 

Oners his sons a security for 

Benjamin's life 68 

Jacobs prophecy respecting 
li i iii 72 



Sect. 
Reuben, the territory of his tribe, 

235, 263 
Reuel. See Jetiiro. 
Rezin, allies with Pekah ; invades 

Judah.. 491 

second invasion of 492 

slain by Abaz 493 and note 

Rezon, son of Eliadah ; founds Da- 
mascus 362 

Rezon, or Hezion 493, note 

Riblah, Jehoahaz put in bands 

there 530 

Rimmon, rock, Benjamites abide 

there 274 

Rivers of Canaan 245 

Rizpah, concubine of Saul 324 

her sons given to Gibeonites.. 346 

Ruth, book of 304, 305 

story of 305 

S. 

Sabseans 515 

Sabbath instituted 4, note 

Sabbatical vear, the 194 

Sacrifices ..*. 167-177 

See Offerings and Oblations. 

classified 167 

selection of victims 168 

their typical character 177 

national 186 

Sadducees, become a political fac- 
tion Con. 46 

their origin Con. 97 

tenets Con. 98 

Sais 528 

Salah, son of Arphaxad 18 

Salamis, battle of. 582 

Sale, law of 126 

Salome, queen of Aristobulus I. 

(see Alexandra) Con. 48 

Salt, valley of, 18,000 Edomites 

slain in 329 

Edomites conquered in, by 

Amaziah 464 

Samaria, built bv Omri 396 

besieged by Ben had ad II 433 

taken by Sbalmaneser 505 

colonization of 507 

Samaritans, who so called 507 

hinder building of temple. .575, 589 

sect of Cm. 102 

Samias, a member of the Sanhe- 
drim Con. 67 

counsels surrender of the city, 

Con. 74 

Samson, judgeship of 295 

born'; life and exploits of 296 

capture and death 297 

Samuel, son ofElkanah and Han- 
nah 2D8 

prophecy of 800 

calls on the people to put away 

Idolatry 802 

his sons ;' anoints Saul king... 303 
rebukes Saul for disobedience. 307 



370 



INDEX. 



Sect. 

Samuel, slays Agag 308 

anoints David king 309 

death of 318 

appears after death to Saul.... 320 

books of, Analysis of p. 161 

Sanballat, hinders "building of the 

temple 589 

governor of Samaria Con. 3 

Sanhedrim, its supposed origin, 

138, 219 

defied by Herod Con. 67 

massacred by Herod Con. 74 

Saosduehinus 527 

Sarai, daughter of Haran, marries 

Ahram 19 

deals hardly with Hagar 27 

a son promised to her 28 

her name changed to Sarah... 29 

laughs at the promise 30 

death of 37 

Said, son of Kish, anointed king.. 303 

defeats Ammonites 306 

his disobedience ; defeats Phil- 
istines 307 

reproved by Samuel 308 

endeavors to kill David 311 

sends messengers after David. 312 
massacres the priests of Nob.. 315 
the skirt of his robe cut off by 

David 317 

his spear and cruse of water 

carried awav by David 319 

consults witch of Endor 320 

defeat and suicide of 321 

character of 322 

Scape-goat, the 192 

Scaurus, a general of Pompev..C<m 60 

Scribes, the "..Con. 101 

Scythopolis 321 

Sects, Jewish Con. 93 

Segub, son of Hiel 256, 418 

Seir 596 

Selah 607 

Seleucus, a general of Alexander ; 

his provinces Con. 9 

Seleucus Philopator, succeeds to 

the throne of Syria Con. 15 

Seminisemissio, purification from. 206 

Semiramis 560 

Sennacherib, succeeds to the 
throne; Hezekiah submits 

to 508 

takes Ashdod ; invades Judah. 509 
destruction of his army. ...510, 554 

Septuagint Int. 61 

completed 12 

Seraiah, a high priest 572 

Serpent, the, tempts Eve 5 

the brazen, set up by Moses... 229 
destroyed by Heze- 
kiah 502 

Serpents, the fiery 228 

Serug, father of Nahor 18 

Servitudes, the 275-298 

Seth, son of Adam 9 

Sethon 508, note 



Sect. 
Seventy, the tribunal of, instituted 

by Moses 138 

appointed 219 

Shadrach, given as a hostage to 

Nebuchadnezzar 537 

Shadrach (Hebrew Hananiah), 

educated at Babylon 621 

cast into the fiery furnace 623 

Shallum, assassinates Zechariah... 479 

duration of reign 482 

a name of Jehoahaz 529 

Shalmaneser, makes Hoshea trib- 
utary 500 

besieges Samaria 505, 554 

Shamgar, judgeship of. 277 

Shammah, son of Jesse 309 

Sharon, a canton of Palestine 612 

Sheba, revolt of. 344 

death of. 345 

Sheba, queen of, visits Solomon.... 361 
Shechein, Jacob resides at; son of 

Hamor 56 

a city of refuge 236 

laws set up at, on Mount Ebal. 239 

capital of Israel 369 

See 283. note 
Shechemites, circumcised, and 

slaughter of. 56 

Shechinah, the 147 

Shelah, son of Judah and the Ca- 

naanite 62 

Shelomith, the son of, blasphemes 

and is stoned 113 

Shem, son of Noah 12 

his posterity 16 

Shen 302 

Shemaiah, the prophet 370 

forbids Kehoboam to fight 

against Israel 372 

Shemaiah, a false prophet; his 

punishment 545 

Shepherds, an abomination to the 

Egyptians 69 

Sheshai, son of Anak 264 

Sheshbazzar. (See ZERUBBABEL). 572 

Shew-bred, the table 142 

David obtains some from 

Ahimelech 314 

Shibboleth, Ephraimites made to 

pronounce 291 

Shiloh, the tabernacle set up there. 262 
daughters of, carried off by 

Benjamites 274 

Shimei, curses David 338 

David forgives him 343 

slain by Benaiah 355 

Shinar 24 

Shiphrah, a Hebrew midwife 81 

Shishak, king of Egypt, invades 

Judah 375 

Shittim, Israelites led to, by Josh- 
ua 253 

Shobach, commander-in-chief of 

Uadadezer 331 

Shobi, son of Nahash. succors Da- 
vid 311 



INDEX. 



371 



Sect. 

Shuah, a Canaanite 62 

Shunaminite, the, her son restored 

by Elisba 437 

Shur, wilderness of; Hagar goes 

thither 27 

Israelites enter 102 

Sicarii, the, sect of. Con. 102 

Sichem, Abrani passes through, 

21 and note 

Siddini, vale of. 24 

Sidonians, the, war with 261 

Sihon, king of the Araorites, de- 
feated hy Israelites 229 

wrests territory from Am- 
monites 290 

Siloam, pool of. 340 

Simeon, son of Leah, horn 50 

his cruelty to Shechemites 56 

kept as a pledge by Joseph 68 

Jacoh's prophecy respecting 

him 72 

territory of his tribe 263 

trihe of, defeats Adonibezek... 270 
Simon the Just, high priest, death 

of. Con. 10 

See MACCAByEUS. 

Sin, wilderness of, Israelites enter 102 

Sinai. (See Horeh) 84 

the Jews encamp before it 107 

Sisera, general of Jabin, slain by 

Jael 278 

Slavery, law respecting 132 

Blares, fugitive, law respecting 125 

Smerdis Magus. See Artaxerxes. 

Sodom, Lot dwells there 22 

Abraham intercedes for it 30 

destruction of 31 

Soemus, a friend of Herod the 

Great Con. 80 

Solomon, son of Bathsheba, born. 330 

proclaimed king 349 

extent of his kingdom 352 

ascends the throne; executes 

Adonijafa and Joab 354 

puts Shimei to death 355 

marries Pharaoh's daughter.. 356 

commerce of. 357 

builds the temple 358 

his idolatry 362 

his death and character 363 

a writer of the Psalms 604 

the Proverbs 608 

Ecclesiastes 609 

Song of 611 

Wisdom of Qm. 108 

fiontrof the Three Children. ..Cow. Ill 
Sunk, valley of 297 

Spies, twelve, sen 1 into Canaan.... 221 

two, sent to Jericho 253 

Star-, created 1 

Stealing, law against 123 

Succoth ("booths"; 100, note 

Sun, created 1 

Susanna, History of Qm. 112 

Syria, Geography and History of, 

Int. '.), If) 



Sect. 

Syria, History of 493, vote 

(See pp. 166-169, note.) 
Syrians defeated by David 331 

T. 

Taberah ("a burning") march of 

Israelites to 217 

Tabernacle, the, external descrip- 
tion 139 

court of 148 

completion of 151 

set up in Sbiloh 262 

Tabernacles, feast of 190 

a type of the 

Messiah .". 196 

kept by Ezra 585 

Tabor, mountain of Canaan 245 

Tabrimon, father of Benhadad I., 

493, note 
Tadmor, or Palmyra, built by Sol- 
omon 357 

Tamar, wife of Ur, Judah's incest 

with 62 

daughter of David ; abused by 

Amnon 334 

Tatnai, a Persian governor 578 

Tekel 627 

Tekoah, Jehoshaphat obtains a 

victory there 422 

Temple, the, built by Solomon 358 

description of 359 

dedication of. 360 

the second 360, note 

Herod's 360, note 

Ten tribes, revolt of 364 

Terah, father of Abram, his de- 
scent 19 

leaves Ur; his death 20 

Tarshish 357,419 

Thebez, Ahimelech slain in be- 
sieging 285 

Thermopylae, battle of. 582 

Thracians, descended from Ja- 

pheth 14 

Thu minim 162 

Tibarenians, descended from Ja- 

pheth 14 

Tibni, faction of; death of 396 

Tidal, king of nations 24 

Tiglath-pileser, Aha/, applies to; 

slays Rezin 493,554 

Timnath 62,296 

Timnath-serah given to Joshua.... 264 
Tiras, father of the Thraeians, de- 
scendant of Japheth 14 

Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia 510 

Tit/.ah, burnt by Ztitiri 395 

Tillies 188 

'rob, land of 289 

Tobiah binders building of the 

temple 5X9 

Tobit, book of Qm. 105 

Toi, father of Joram, king of Ha- 

niatb 829 

Tola, a judge 286 



372 



INDEX. 



Sect. 

Trespass, law of 124 

Tribes, connection with each oth- 
er 137 

Trumpets, feast of. 191 

Tryphon, treachery of. Con. 37 

Tubal-Cain, son of Lamech and 

Zillah 8 

Type, a scriptural meaning of 78 

Tyre, kings of Int. 12 

u. 

Uncleanness, purification from.... 206 

Upharsin 627, note 

Ur, Abram born tliere 20 

Uriah, husband of Bathsheba, bis 

death 332 

Urijah, a prophet, slain by Je- 

hoiakim : 532 

Urim 162 

Uz, land of. 596 

Uzzah, slain for touching the ark.. 328 
TJzziah, or Azariah, king of Ju- 

dah ; duration of reign 470 

influence of Zechariah over 

him 472 

smitten with leprosy 475 

V. 

Vashti, queen of Ahasuerus, di- 
vorced 593 

Vow, Jephthah's 291, note 

Vows, nature of 197 

classification 199 

I. of dedication 200 

II. of self-interdiction and 
Nazaritism 201 

Vulgate, the Int. 62 

W. 

Wars of the Lord, hook of 237 

Wisdom of Solomon Con. 108 

Witness, false, law respecting 129 

World, the, of Old Testament 1 

X. 

Xerxes, succeeds Darius 582 

See Table p. 257 

Y. 

Yarmuk, a river of Palestine 245 

Z. 

Zabad, expedition of the sons of, 

81, note 

Zabianism, Job alludes to 595 

Zadok, the priest, bears the ark 
after David ; ordered to car- 
ry it hack 338 

ordered by David to proclaim 
Solomon king 349 



Sect. 
Zalmunnah, a king of the Midian- 

ites, slain by Gideon 281 

Zarrah, son of Judah and Tamar.. 62 

Zared, a river 228 

Zarephath, a Phoenician city 403 

Zealots, the Con. 102 

Zebah, a king of the Midianites, 

slain by Gideon 281 

Zehul, governor of Shechem 285 

Zebulon, son of Leah, born 50 

Jacob's prophecy respecting 

him 72 

the territory of his tribe 263 

Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, stoned 

by Joash 454 

Zechariah, king of Israel, son of 
Jeroboam II.; duration of 
reign ; assassinated byShal- 

lum 479 

Zechariah the prophet, son of Ber- 

echiah 641 

Zedekiah, king of Judah, son of 

Josiab ; duration of reign... 544 
allies with Pharaoh-Hophra... 547 

applies to Jeremiah 549 

his eyes put out by Nebu- 
chadnezzar; carried to Bab- 
ylon ; death, and contradic- 
tory prophecies concerning 

him 550 

Zeeb, prince of the Midianites, 

slain by Ephraimites 281 

Zelophehad, daughters of. 128 

Zeinaraim, a mountain on the bor- 
ders of Ephraim 379 

Zephaniah, the prophet 518 

his prophecies 639 

Zerah, the Ethiopian, defeated by 

Asa 387 

Zerubbabel, grandson of Jehoia- 
cliin, appointed tirshatha of 

Judaea 572 

refuses assistance from Sa- 
maritans in the building 

the temple 575 

Zeruiah, sister of David 326, note 

mother of Joab 354 

Ziba, David { .ces Mephibosheth 

under his care 330 

falselv accuses Mephibosheth 

to David 334 

Mephibosheth complains of 

his treachery 343 

Ziklag, given to David by Achish. 319 

Zillah, a wife of Lamech 8 

Zilpah, Leah's handmaid 49 

her sons 50 

Zimri, slain by Phinebas 231 

Zimri, king of Israel, assassinates 

Elan. 393 

duration of reign 3'.)4 

besieged bv Oniri ; his death.. 395 

Zion, taken by David 326 

Ziph, wilderness of, David goes 

there 316 

his forbearance at 319 



INDEX. 



373 



Sect. 
Zipporah, dauehter of Jethro, 

marries Moses 83 

circumcises her son 85 

brought to Moses hy Jethro... 106 
Zobah, kings of, defeated by Saul. 

308, note 



Sect. 

Zobah, invaded by David 329 

Zophar the Naamathite, Job's 

friend 599 

Zopyrtis, retakes the city of Baby- 
lon 582 



THE END. 



TESTIMONIALS. 



" This is not a commonplace book. It is the result of labor 
and learning. It is fitted to render much help to the student 
in his endeavor to become acquainted with the contents of 
the Bible analytically and chronologically, and by means of 
a judicious classification of them. ... It presents an excel- 
lent summary of matters adapted to facilitate an intelligent 
study of the sacred volume." — British Quarterly Review. 

" This Analysis cannot fail to be useful to a large class of 
students. Numerous tables, summaries of events, analyses 
of law systems, and other important matters, are appended." 
— Athenaeum. 

" Of the first edition of this work we had the pleasure of 
speaking in terms of hearty praise; and if then it claimed 
acceptance as an intelligently-conceived and well-executed 
hand-book to the study of the Old Testament, it now deserves 
more specific and emphatic commendation, so thoroughly has 
the author perfected what at first he achieved so happily. 
Amongst the chief additions are the following: An account 
of Canaan prior to its conquest by the Israelites ; synchron- 
istic^ tables of the history of Israel and Judah ; a review of 
the history of these divided monarchies, prefacing a thorough 
rearrangement of this portion of the general history, by which 
greater clearness is attained than we ever found in any similar 
work; and a new connection of the Old and New Testaments, 
including the history of the Jews from the governorship of 
Nehemiah to the birth of our Lord, which is marked by many 



TESTIMONIALS. 

great improvements and is admirable for lucidity and com- 
pleteness. Another feature of the work worthy of special 
mention is the excellent analysis of the laws of Moses. 

" We know of no manual for the student of the Old Testa- 
ment so perfect in method, so comprehensive in its contents, 
so thorough in its information, and so reliable in its treatment 
of the most intricate portions of Jewish history, as is this vol- 
ume. Clear intelligence, historical learning, and great care- 
fulness of labor are stamped on every page. To students 
preparing for theological examinations, to teachers under 
training in normal schools, and to ministers conducting Bible- 
classes of young men, we can give it our best word, assured 
that they will find it of high value." — Nonconformist. 

" The volume before us is well described by its title. It is 
very simple in its plan, but, simple as the plan seems, its 
execution must have been a work of time and labor, and the 
author has lost sight of nothing that might conduce to the 
object in view. The summary and analysis of the text, 
which is of itself a work of no small difficulty, is cleverly 
done, especially in the Mosaic laws and ordinances ; and the 
author generally endeavors to explain or illustrate any ob- 
scure points in Jewish history — ' particularly,' as he frankly 
remarks, ' those portions which are most frequently the sub- 
jects of college examinations.' " — Dr. Kitto's Journal of Sa- 
cred Literature. 



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